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Business Process Management Professionals - Career path
A Business Process Management BPM Career path is now begining to become apparent as BPM becomes more main stream in organisational culture.
BPM Professionals can be seen to fall into four main areas - process, function, software, architecture. It should be remembered that Business Process Management initiatives do not neccesarily have to be technology driven, but may take the form of improved manual processes.
Average Annual Base Salary For BPM Professionals For 2010
| Role/Country |
UK (GBP) |
USA (US$) |
Australia (AU$) |
BPM Consultant
(non Sales) |
51,000 |
94,000 |
97,000 |
BPM Pre-Sales
(excludes any bonuses) |
62,000 |
109,000 |
112,000 |
BPMS Administrator/Manager
(non sales) |
73,000 |
115,000 |
121,000 |
| BPM Process Analyst |
48,000 |
92,000 |
97,000 |
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* Process orientated BPM Professionals are focused around Six Sigma and lean methods and can help a company jump-start their continuous improvement efforts.
* Function orientated BPM Professionals have a more deep experience in solution implementation and are looking to help improve a particular area.
* Software orientated BPM Professionals are typically focused on Java or .Net Development approaches and are also involved in the deep integration os the BPM solution.
* Architecture, BPM Consulting Professionals would typically have an understanding of Process, Function and Software and also bring BPM Architecture skills to the table.
An all-rounder BPM Professional would be expected to have a mix of the following:
* Experience and familiarity with technology
* Experience with BPM orientated Project Mangement
* Experience with process reengineering, Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement approaches.
* Ability to be both tatical Process Mapping and strategic Process Architecture.
* A good understanding of people (organisational change management) and how to drive adoption of a BPM Solution.
* Ability to work with, and lead a client (internal or external).
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Gartner predictions for the future BPM Professional included:
* Through 2009, the most successful BPI role leaders will be management consultants rather than internal staff.
* Experience with cross-boundary processes
* Experience in at least three operational areas;
* Six Sigma black belt or green belt;
* Experience with lean or other methodologies;
* Organizations worldwide are adopting process initiatives, so the BPM Professional would need an understanding of what process excellence means (drive the organisation's BPM Maturity)
* Understand traditional application development versus RAD versus BPM to know which route to choose when faced with a technology option.
Another interesting resource to look at is the Core Body Of Knowledge (CBOK) published by the Association of BPM Professionals (ABPMP). The diagram below shows the high-level CBOK.
Notice how the ABPMP CBOK is aligns to the Gartner predictions of future skills required by BPM Professionals.
It is only recently we are seeing CVs appearing with the above mix, but appearing they are. The clever Business Process Management Professional is strategically taking on projects which allow them to develop Personal BPM Maturity within their own BPM Career.
Let us take a quick look at how that might look.....
* Experience and familiarity with technology
At least wo or more BPM products - preferrable one .Net based (e.g. Metastorm, Global360) and one Java based (e.g. Appian, Oracle, Lombardi).
* Experience with BPM orientated Project Management
You should be able to demonstrate project management experience definitiely in a waterfall method (e.g. PrinceII) and try to gain a certificate in a lean method such as SCRUM, this type of project management method fits within an overall waterfall environment.
* Experience with process reengineering, Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement approaches.
You should gain at least Green Belt certification or show a competancy in these techniques. As the BPM Technology becomes more evolved, so the improvement methods of the BPM Consulktants must become more rigourous in showing how savings and return on investment will be achieved. Also the ability to build a business case for process initiatives showing where improvements will be made is expected.
* Ability to be both tatical Process Mapping and strategic Process Architecture.
This comes with experience and getting your hands dirty.
For Process Mapping, you would also include a process mapping certification here (BPMN, BPEL).
For Process Architecture, and understanding of SOA (Serviice rientated Architecture), web services, middleware and service bus technology would be needed. This would be complimented with experience with Enterprise Content Management and Document Management Systems. Communication between systems is mandatory, and as well as the above technologies, working with one or more of the following would be useful Databases (Oracle. MS SQL Server), PeopleSoft, SAP, Siebel, etc
* A good understanding of people (organisational change management) and how to drive adoption of a BPM Solution.
Change Management is an art, there are formal considerations and approaches, but people being people, no two situations are the same.
Collect templates and tools to put in your BPM Tool-bag as you build up your experience.
* Ability to work with, and lead a client (internal or external).
A client maybe an internal stakeholder, or an external entity. Either way, an ability to drive a "sale" (of your methods), convince them of your abilities and persuade them your apprach is correct are all necessary.
You need to become the "Trusted Advisor" in all things Business Process Management through demonstrating your BPM competency.
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BPM Career Path
