| If you want to avoid the dreaded scope creep in | | | | business process, they inevitably think of new points |
| business process improvement (BPI) work, take | | | | as you get deeper and deeper into the work. Having |
| some time and establish the foundation, or blueprint, | | | | established boundaries at the very beginning of the |
| for the business process you want to improve. | | | | work though, will help you avoid future |
| Scope creep comes into play in any project when | | | | time-consuming discussions about the beginning and |
| you veer away from the original purpose of the | | | | end of a business process when colleagues attempt |
| work without an increase in time, resources, or | | | | to bring in new ideas. Unfortunately, scope creep |
| money. You will find that it is no different with BPI. | | | | usually occurs once you are well into the work and it |
| Before starting any project it is always a good idea | | | | always adds time and cost, so do everything you can |
| to have a plan so that you know the overall size of | | | | up front to prevent it from occurring later. |
| the effort involved. Whether building a deck on your | | | | If you gain consensus with your colleagues up front |
| house or simply painting a room, there is some | | | | on the boundaries, you sort of have a "contract" that |
| pre-work involved so that you can avoid those | | | | you can refer back to, so that the work has a fairly |
| time-consuming trips back to the home center to | | | | good chance of staying on track. Of course, it is not |
| pick up what you forgot. Likewise, in BPI work, you | | | | an official contract, but it will help to keep scope |
| need to establish the boundaries associated with a | | | | creep at bay. |
| business process so that there is a clear beginning | | | | Establishing the foundation is the second step to |
| and end to the work. Setting the boundaries is one | | | | improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and |
| part of the overall foundation you need to establish | | | | adaptability of your business processes, so spend |
| before jumping into BPI. | | | | some time focusing on it. Create the blueprint to |
| When you work with colleagues on improving a | | | | guide your work. |