Are standard processes constraining our agile needs?

[#1]

Lately I’ve been in a number of discussions about processes and automation. When you look at traditional ERP/CRM systems, they have already automated the processes and it is up to you to figure out how to run your business within them.

As we develop more sophisticated systems that can begin to recognize patterns of behavior, new software solutions that adapt to changing needs are possible. One area of this effort is adaptive case management.

“Adaptive Case Management (ACM) is information technology that exposes structured and unstructured business information (business data and content) and allows structured (business) and unstructured (social) organizations to execute work (routine and emergent processes) in a secure but transparent manner.”

I usually talk about standards as allowing us to focus our innovation. In the case of processes though I have to ask: Is the future less about standard ways of doing things and more about adaptive approaches that adjust dynamically to the needs of the day? I think it is.

[#2]

You're touching on an area I'm researching currently with HfS Research.  Similarly, with innovation and disruptive technology obsoleting business processes that were "cemented" into the enterprise in an earlier era, Adaptive Case Management may be a welcome approach to re-thinking how to move forward.  Would love to hear more about this, especially if you have specific examples where it's being done.  

[#3]

This is an area where I've had numerous conversations with Deborah Soule of the MIT center for Digital Business. I am sure she has some specific examples to discuss, since we've talked about a number of them over the last year.