DIGITAL PROCESS MANAGEMENT

This course provides the fundamental knowledge to understand why digitalization is a lever to improve business processes. The course explains the fundamentals of process management like process modelling techniques and performance analysis. We will learn how to model and analyze complex process structures using established modelling and analysis techniques (e.g., performance analysis). In addition, we will focus on why we learn these techniques and look at their application in process digitalization initiatives. We will thereby compare techniques as well as evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and learn how process models are translated into IT architectures. From a theoretical standpoint, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of object-orientation being the standard in comparison to subject-orientation as an alternative approach to process modelling.

Further, the opportunities and challenges of digitalization for process performance will be evaluated using examples and exercises from practice, such as process guidance and process mining. During the class, several “concept-in-practice” sessions will ensure that the students also learn to actively model processes using different tools and techniques that are widely used in practice (e.g., ARIS or MS Visio). The goal for students is to develop an intuition and fundamental understanding of the potential capacity, challenges, and boundaries of digitalization in business processes. The successful student will be able to judge whether, how, and why the introduction of digitalized elements will improve processes.