Adaptive Process - Defined!

Following discussions in the LinkedIn ACM Group I amotherwise chip production would always yield 100%
presenting here the shortest possible definition ofand machines would not break). But lets return from
Adaptive Case Management or Adaptive Processphilosophy (and quantum physics, by the way).
(AP). I propose that it involves three distinct paradigmIn reality everything that happens (any action that is
shifts:taken by a person), happens because it is caused by
1. Adaptive Process is a productive system thata mental match to a knowledge/perception pattern.
deploys not only the organization and processThat we think it is a process is related to the
structure but through backend interfaces becomes thesequential relative memory path of our brain. We do
system of record for the business data entities andnot remember in pictures but in things in sequence,
content involved. All processes are completelyrelative and change. Just because things happened in
transparent as per access authorization and fullysequence, it is not yet a process and one event does
auditable.not have to cause another. So far so good. Another
2. Adaptive Process enables non-technical businessstep back to BPM.
users in virtual organizations to seamlessly createYou can now take BPM as a management concept
consolidate structured and unstructured processesand say that it has nothing to do with process
from basic predefined business entities, content, socialmanagement as a technology. Correct. Most business
interactions, and business rules.consultants sell that aspect of their work and the
3. Adaptive Process moves the process knowledgeweaker the management and employees are the
gathering in the life cycle from the template analysismore they can benefit from BPM guidance. A great
modeling/simulation phase into the process execution.organisation with great people will be destroyed by
The AP system collects actionable knowledge –BPM (as a concept not yet software) because their
without intermediate analysis phase – based oninitiative and intuitive work focus is destroyed. Their
process patterns created by business users.perception patterns created successful outcomes and
Adaptive Process does not simply enhance BPM withnow they can’t do that anymore.
unstructured processes. Case Management enablesThink about it:  Without BPM, business processes in
unstructured collaboration but it does not collectany organization DO continuously adapt. Maybe not in
actionable knowledge from the process.  Yes, APa desired direction if the management isn’t any
seems to be quite effective for knowledge workers,good. They will be using whatever means at their
but there is no reason why it would not provide similardisposal to do so. Paper and pencil will work fine. But
benefits to any business activity by any person insidethey will adapt because the individual agents make it a
or outside the organisation. That has to do with a verycomplex adaptive system and not a simplified
limited view of business processes from a conceptualcomplicated one. If you now bring in BPM, as a first
preset BPM perspective only. Structured or predictablestep you kill that natural ability through the mandatory
processes are only those that apparently can’t besimplification. That is the destructive danger of BPM I
improved any further or seem to have no need toam so outspoken against. Ideally we can bring in a
change. Projects pick those because BPMsystem that will not take away the natural adaptive
methodology, modelling and software are so limitedcapability but enhance it and make the outcomes and
and can only bring cost reductions there. It is not whatindividual perception patterns transparent for
the business really needs …improvement.
What are my requirements for Adaptive ProcessMy work at ISIS Papyrus is focused providing
based on? From a real world perspective allAdaptive Process technology that exposes structured
processes are human perception ONLY. They are(business data) and unstructured (content) information
abstract simplifications that do not exist in reality,to the members of structured (business) and
because it is impossible to analyse and model allunstructured (social) organizations to securely execute
complex relationships and dependencies. In a purely– with knowledge interactively gathered previously
classical physical world (mechanics and electronics)– structured (process) and unstructured (case)
modelling is more realistically possible (up to a point aswork in a transparent and auditable manner .