Digitalization, the Web of Open Things and Process Management

The digital transformation in our society changes how we live, work, learn and communicate. Completing a list of all scenarios where digitalization triggers changes is virtually impossible. However, a recurring effect can be recognized: With upcoming change, it is difficult for organizations to transition from the digitalization strategy to the affected information systems. The strategy for new digital propositions, often defined by the management, is opposed to numerous technological options for its implementation.

But, considering the strategy and the technology alone is certainly not enough. There is nothing "glueing" generally abstract strategies with the technologies provided by various providers. For example, consider the introduction of smartphones and their impact on the relationship between companies and customers. The possibilities to implement new business ideas have increased immensely as a result of these small devices alone. Companies like Uber would not have been imaginable without this technology. However, the Californian business model cannot merely be explained by a clever strategy and new technologies. To understand the connection, the concrete derivation of the underlying business process is required. In the case of Uber, it is about providing a simple mobile process that connects independent service providers with potential passengers. Along this process chain of provider selection, physical delivery of the service - the actual journey - and billing of the service, digital technologies are used to provide customers with Uber's offer.

The digital business process is the "glue" between the strategic concept and the technology. It defines how digital strategy and technology can be brought together. This explains why an established concept from the 1980s is currently taking on new meaning: business process management. The ability to plan business processes flexibly and agilely is the central prerequisite for a successful digital transformation. Business Process Management is the starting point for fast digitization and optimization of business processes. But more importantly, it increases the agility as well as the ability of an organization to adapt to changing circumstances. In contrast, solely focusing on technological topics of digitalization can even reduce the chances for an organization to react to changing circumstances and lead to a "digital dead end". Avoiding this dead end is imperative if a company wants to react efficiently to changing market dynamics of digital offers.

Planning, introducing and operating technologies flexibly is the key competency that comprehensive business process management must support nowadays. It represents the "glue" that connects digital technologies and corporate strategy. A holistic view of strategies, technologies and the linking business process management, enables organizations to reliably evaluate new business ideas, make decisions and implement them on a sound basis. Business process management thus becomes the organizer and driver of digital change within the company. But how can it be pragmatically expanded into a design tool for digitization?