What's Your Baseline? Enterprise Architecture & Business Process Management Demystified

When starting with process management one of the first questions is “what process notation shall I use”. In this episode of the What’s Your Baseline? podcast we discuss this question with Walter Bril, who is one of the co-inventors of the Universal Process Notation (UPN) and why it is not *really* important what notation you should use … it is more important which approach to Business Process Management you choose. Walter has a strong process knowledge management background, combined with skills and experience in technology management for more than 20 years. Involved in and contributed to the field of practical process knowledge preservation. As you will hear, he has a no-nonsense approach and a unique and practical way to involve and motivate people regarding process knowledge management, process thinking and creating awareness. Besides nerding out on process notations, he spends more time in the interesting developments around the Bitcoin protocol and public blockchain. Particularly in the context of social developments, concerns regarding the sustainability of traditional thinking models, and the socio-economic potential that a public blockchain has to offer. The combination “process-nerd” and blockchain evangelist is particularly valuable in this (oh, and he is the co-author on two books on this topic as well). In this episode of the podcast we are talking about: Walter’s background The UPN notation and the 5 questions you should ask when modeling a process The “why” behind all this How to implement a new notation/approach in an organization How to convince people What is the “now what” then? You can reach Walter on LinkedIn or by sending him an email to walter@elements.cloud. Please reach out to us by either sending an email to hello@whatsyourbaseline.com or leaving us a voice message by clicking here.

What are the needs of a small business compared to a larger one? Can they use the same approaches for process improvement and business process management? Shall they use the same tools? Yhis week we are speaking with an expert on this topic (and also a small business owner herself - Adi Klevit. Adi is running her own firm that has specialized on helping small organizations with process documentation/process management and helps them to create the consistency that they need ... just like larger organizations. She also runs her own podcast on that topic called "Systems Simplified Podcast". In this episode of the podcast we are talking about: Adi's background Why doing processes for a small organization? Sales of “process” to small organizations (vs. large organizations) Processes start with a “Why” and change management is important Uses of process documentation in small orgs Where to start when beginning the process journey? What is her approach to mapping? How to make sure that the process documentation is used? You can reach Adi via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adiklevit/. Her business can be found at bizsuccesscg.com and her podcast is called Systems Simplified Podcast. Please reach out to us by either sending an email to ⁠hello@whatsyourbaseline.com⁠ or leaving us a voice message by clicking ⁠here⁠.

I see a lot of separated efforts in organization, and model processes. Aren't these all connected activities that should be coordinated to create a *gulp* architecture that carries the load? But what is a "Business Architecture" and how is it different from just an assembly of processes? Are these terms synonyms or is there more to a Business Architecture than that? In this episode of the podcast we are talking about: What is a Business Architecture? Why should I care and where to start? Align strategy to (business) architecture Two process views - functional processes vs. End-to-End processes Both process views are connected (big map vs. trip map) Please reach out to us by either sending an email to hello@whatsyourbaseline.com or leaving us a voice message by clicking here.

If you have listened to a couple of podcast episodes you know that we are true believers in that the biggest "problem" in any architecture, BPM, or Process Mining project is not the technology or the processes and other architecture views - it is the people!  Getting people along with your change is the hardest thing to do and therefore we are happy to revisit the topic of Organizational Change Management on a semi-regular basis. Jehane has worked as a Change Management and Business Transformation lead for over 15 years working on large multinational projects in multiple industries including financial services, consulting, manufacturing, sports and entertainment, healthcare, transportation and the public sector. She likes to focus on helping clients to drive lasting change and to support teams in working better together while achieving their aims. In her down time, Jehane enjoys coaching, reading, continuously learning and spending time with her tribe in relaxing environments like the spa... In this episode of the podcast we are talking about: Jehane's background Evaluating what you actually need to make org. change management real for your audience The five "Whys" and the "WIIFM" (What's In It For Me?) Meet people where they are, not where you want them or need them to be Questions to ask when making a change How to create a compelling story Setting up for successful adoption Partnering effectively with change managers Common mistakes What makes a good Org. Change Management professional You can reach Jehane via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jehaneadam/. Please reach out to us by either sending an email to hello@whatsyourbaseline.com or leaving us a voice message by clicking here.

Developing a strategy for your organization seems like a mystery for a lot of people (and some organizations make a large coin from keeping that mystery), but in all reality it has a big part of “wild guesses” included. In this episode of the What’s Your Baseline Podcast we have Dan Marquez on the show, who knows a thing or two about this topic from his time at Accenture, Boston Consulting Group, or Google. Dan is a passionate and eminently capable digital transformation professional, and also an expert in helping organizations understand and capitalize on the power of technology. He specializes in adapting the enterprise strategies of his clients to find the real value opportunities and disruption resilience that can be powered by digital solutions. He also has deep knowledge of Operating Model and Culture design, supporting companies to drive the change necessary to make transformations sustainable. In this episode of the podcast we are talking about: Dan’s background What is a “strategy”? What to look for when developing a strategy (and which traps to avoid) Explore the space by using an “intersectional strategy” method How to implement a strategy – duality of leadership mentalities PSA: style trumps substance Most challenges boil down to cultural problems Pursue an “L-shaped” transformation – focus on building foundational improvements while delivering value through narrow end-to-end use cases Dan can be contacted via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquezd/. Please reach out to us by either sending an email to hello@whatsyourbaseline.com or leaving us a voice message by clicking here.

Discover the importance of applying Lean techniques to process mining with expert Sebastian Kotulla. Topics include defining problems with DMAIC and CRISP, analyzing flow and waste in Lean, prioritizing processes, and utilizing tools like Fishbone diagrams and FMEA analysis for process improvement.

Welcome to Season 4 of our podcast. Today we are talking about Solution Engineering, aka Presales, and what you can expect from your vendor's solution engineers (vs. their consultants). In this episode of the podcast we are talking about: What is a Solution Engineer? What is their primary job focus and their scope of work and process? What are Consultants (and are they different from Solution Engineers) What are the required skill sets for Solution Engineers (and Consultants)? How to work with both - when to contact, what info they need, and what to expect. Please reach out to us by either sending an email to hello@whatsyourbaseline.com or leaving us a voice message by clicking here.

Today we have a special What's Your Baseline Shorts episode for you, that has nothing to do with Enterprise Architecture or Business Process Management.   However, we think that you will like it: our guest today is Jeremy Voltz, an indie-soul musician from Toronto, Ontario, who is gracefully letting us use his music for all intros, outros, and intermissions. In this episode we are talking with him about:   how he got into music (he has a PhD in Mathematics)  what kind of music he produces - how his process works (well, at least a bit of BPM)  and what is next for him   You can reach Jeremy at jeremyvoltzmusic.com or via his LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-voltz-758118101/.   We're closing out the episode with the full Non-Christmas Christmas song "When You're Near" by him as a small token of our appreciation for you. Please enjoy the upcoming holidays with your loved ones and we will see each other in Season 4 starting in mid-January!

Welcome to another episode of our podcast. In the final episode of the final season for this year, we are talking about another ten things we’ve learned over the years: How to do things Transparency is more important than ever Strategic alignment is key to your success Sometimes you have to say “no” to requirements Make clear from the outset how a project’s success is measured Tools BPM/EA tools are still too nerdy Tools need to be simpler - how to get to information in three clicks or fewer How to provide self-help resources (Bonus) Do not google “how to create subway maps” The discipline/industry There will be a renaissance of forward-looking data-driven decision making (e.g., Simulation) Process Mining will cease to exist as its own market in 3-5 years Knowledge Management needs to be more in focus Please reach out to us by either sending an email to hello@whatsyourbaseline.com or leaving us a voice message by clicking here.

Ron Baker, a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with a rich history in process improvement for Fortune 500 companies, shares his insights on the relevance of Lean and Six Sigma today. He demystifies the concepts, discussing their symbiotic relationship and impact on cost reduction. Ron describes how to initiate projects by engaging leadership and mapping value streams. He emphasizes the importance of data, practical experience over certifications, and turning analysis into actionable strategies while maintaining client communications for sustained improvements.