Process frameworks, like APQC’s Process Classification Framework (PCF)®, provide organizations with a starting point for their process documentation efforts. Organizations must decide which framework is best for their organization, but the work doesn’t stop there. Process teams must also decide the best way to implement a framework, usually fighting these common implementation challenges:
- Buy-in and engagement
- Alignment and purpose
- Limitations of the framework
Every other year, we survey process professionals to understand how they are using frameworks, common adoption practices, implementation practices, and the challenges involved. This blog highlights findings from 2023 survey for the top two challenges, what I predict to see in the 2025 data, and APQC content that can help organizations face these challenges head-on.
Buy-In and Engagement
According to the 2023 survey, out of three implementation challenges, organizations struggle the most with buy-in and engagement of the framework, more specifically:
- Insufficient communication between internal stakeholders
- Lack of incentives for participating in process work
- Employee resistance
- Little to no executive-level buy-in
- “Not invented here” culture
2025 Process Framework Predictions
My prediction is that miscommunication and employee resistance will remain an issue, as I repeatedly hear members mention “change management” as a pain point for process work. I’m also frequently asked how to get buy-in from management, leaders, as well as employees.
APQC Resources
- Leading the Way Through Change: How Executives and Senior Managers Can Help Change Management Efforts Succeed
- How To Engage Employees (the Right Way) In Change
- Making Change Management Mindful
Alignment and Purpose
Looking at alignment and purpose, here are the specific challenges organizations noted in 2023:
- Operational silos
- Lack of knowledge management on the part of stakeholders
- Our organization’s lack of pre-established goals for process management efforts
- “Do it all, all at once” mentality
- Power struggles over process governance
2025 Predictions
My prediction is that pre-established goals for process management efforts will decrease as I’ve heard more organizations are focusing on strategic alignment. While they may not have solved it yet, I hope the efforts they’re making move this challenge down to be a little less important. I predict operational silos to still be an issue. While collaborative tools exist to bring the workforce together, the rapid pace of business and change today can still leave groups left out of the most recent conversation or decision process, resulting in unintended silos.
APQC Resources
- Governance and Strategic Alignment: How Process Programs Stack Up
- Fixing Knowledge & Process Productivity Problems
Next Steps
Take a moment to provide your insights for the 2025 survey before March 21, and check back in April to see the results!