^The APQC Blog

As discussed in my last blog, I will walk readers through APQC’s methodology for process improvement over the next several months in this series of blogs I like to call Demystifying Process Improvements. Our step-by-step approach is based both on our best practice research as well as hands-on experience helping large companies’ accelerate their process efforts. 

The "Uberization of work" is coming. That's the latest work world prediction. As with years past, the transition between 2014 and 2015 has been marked by a barrage of assessments about HR's past performance and a flurry of predictions about the future of work. According to my newsfeeds:

APQC is currently conducting a study that focuses on indirect procurement. This research will provide insight into what benefits can be obtained by modernizing aspects of the procure-to-pay process and explore cross-functional collaboration and alignment between accounts payable and procurement. Through this study, we will determine:

APQC asked a roundtable of KM professionals about how organizations can improve their content management. We asked: What are the keys to having content that different generations of employees can use and understand?

Recently my teenage son has begun preparing for his inevitable independence by learning how to cook. It all started with simple banter—I told him that one cannot live on toast and microwavable mac and cheese forever. However, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t his dietary concerns but comments from his friends that many girls appreciate a guy that can cook that actually won him over.

APQC asked a roundtable of KM professionals about how organizations can improve their content management. Our best-practice research says great content management systems have content developed around stakeholder needs. We asked, "Why don't companies create content that meets stakeholder needs, and what can they do to make sure it happens?

The Edison Awards™ is inviting APQC's members to become part of the prestigious Edison Awards judging panel that recognizes, honors, and fosters innovation across a wide variety of industries and disciplines. This award honors excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design, and innovation.

Harvard Business Review’s recent article, “Managing Your Mission-Critical Knowledge,” prompted me to speak my mind about what really works in KM. Authors Martin Ihrig and Ian MacMillan emphasize the importance of knowing your organization’s knowledge assets, and I’d agree with them. However, I think the authors overlook important and foundational principles of knowledge management.

In December of 2014 APQC surveyed over 300 business excellence practitioners to understand their common challenges and priorities for 2015. An overwhelming 86.1 percent of the respondents identified process management as one of their top three challenges for 2015. This infographic explores the top challenges in process management and some simple tips for overcoming them. Over the next couple of month's we will address the top three process management challenges in this blog.

I was recently able to talk to Susie West, founder and CEO of sharedserviceslink.com, about role of Global Process Owner (GPO) at large multi-national companies, the challenges the face, and how they are charged with improving financial management processes.

Susie West will be speaking on our free webinar on January 28 at 11 AM CST: Global Process Ownership in Shared Services – Nine Steps to Best Practice.