Publications

With our publications we cover the most diverse research areas that arise in the field of man, task and technology. In addition to traditional Business Information Systems topics such as knowledge management and business process management, you will also find articles on current topics such as blended learning, cloud computing or smart grids. Use this overview to get an impression of the range and possibilities of research in Business Information Systems at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Type of Publication: Article in Journal

BPM Capability Development - A Matter of Contingencies

Author(s):
Niehaves, Björn; Pöppelbuß, Jens; Plattfaut, Ralf; Becker, Jörg
Title of Journal:
Business Process Management Journal
Volume (Publication Date):
20 (2014)
pages:
90-106
Keywords:
Business process management;Capability development;Case study;Contingency theory;Dynamic capabilities;Maturity model
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):
doi:10.1108/BPMJ-07-2012-0068
Citation:
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Abstract

Purpose - Business process management (BPM) is a key concept in information systems (IS) research that helps to connect business strategy with the use of technology in an organization. Contemporary BPM research is no longer only about methods, procedures, or tools for managing or modeling processes but about assessing and developing BPM capability in organizations. For this purpose, a vast collection of maturity models has been designed by practitioners and scholars alike. Such models are used to assess the status quo and benchmark it against other organizations, and, most important, to guide the development of BPM capability. With this study, the paper challenges the maturity model perspective of such development models. Design/methodology/approach - In this study, methods of qualitative IS research are employed to address the research objectives. Findings - The paper shows that maturity model-based guidance would be inadequate. Instead, other concept-external factors resulting from organizational and environmental characteristics appear to be important indicators. The theory discussion introduces alternative takes on BPM capability development, lays out implications for BPM practice, and presents potentially fruitful paths for future research in the area of BPM capability development. Originality/value - This paper challenges the current perspectives and contributes a new direction for conceptualizing BPM capability development.