by John Mark V. Tuazon
Computerworld Philippines
August 26, 2010

In a move solidifying what analysts predict as the ‘consumerization’ of IT, software giant Oracle introduced the next iteration of its BPM (business process management) middleware, which will bring social media-like tools to what is traditionally just process-based applications, an executive announced recently.

Oracle BPM Suite 11g, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g, will integrate three core characteristics that will enable users to manage their business processes better: a user-centric design, a unified process foundation, and social BPM.

The social BPM component of the new release will “marry Web 2.0 technologies with the application,” bringing Wikis, instant messaging, and discussion group to the system “so users can better collaborate with each other,” said Edward Zou, vice president for product management, Oracle Fusion Middleware, Oracle Asia Pacific.

Zou said the reality in the BPM realm today is that most companies have horizontal processes that cut across the organization. “In that BPM perspective, firms need to get people working with each other. It is important to help siloed organizations work with each other more effectively,” he explained.

The Oracle executive added that throughout the BPM cycle, a lot of collaboration happen outside the application–through e-mail, chat, and social media. “As such, you lose visibility [of the detailed changes in the process],” Zou stressed.

“Oracle’s BPM Suite 11g allows users to see through the same repository, which then allows the participants to collaborate with each other even if they are looking at the same file from a different angle,” he added.

This gives business process managers a heightened visibility of the changes within the entire system, to be able to see where the fail points are. “This is critical in the banking sector, especially in managing operational risk,” Zou shared.

The new software release–in development for the past two and a half years–also gives agility to users, which is required when companies enter into mergers and acquisition deals, a common driver of BPM in the enterprise.

With the Oracle BPM Suite 11g in operation, users are also able to deliver quick changes to the business process. “At least 63% of our customers were able to deploy changes within six months,” Zou noted.

Critical to deploying these changes, however, are the users who will eventually own the business processes. “It’s not just the system. You are changing the way people do their work, so change management is important.”

Zou added that in doing BPM, it is best to start with a small group first before keeping it going beyond the test group.

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