Process Improvement 101

By Terry Vermeylen, Expert Solution Architect In a world increasingly driven by technology, certain activities, like process mapping, remain uniquely human endeavors. This is because they demand collaboration, critical thinking, and the nuanced touch of human interaction. While AI continues to make strides, it cannot replicate the creativity and synergy that emerge when a team gathers to map out processes. Here’s a detailed,...

By Terry Vermeylen As I’ve highlighted in previous articles, while artificial intelligence offers remarkable capabilities, it isn’t always the panacea for every business challenge. Human group and critical thinking, supported by simple, effective tools, will always reign supreme, especially in the realm of solution architecture. The ability to collectively brainstorm, discuss, and map out solutions using tangible materials...

In the intricate world of Project Management, where complexity often breeds chaos, Solution Architecture stands as a beacon of clarity and efficiency. I’ve decided to distill the wealth of knowledge I’ve accumulated from facilitating Solution Architect workshops into a comprehensive training package. This, I believe, is the linchpin of Project Management and an indispensable skill for modern businesses. Many projects falter at the...

The virus is a staggering challenge for all of humanity. The virus does not recognize borders, companies, politics, skin color or time zones. It is not a government or corporation that will fix this. This is a humanitarian crisis. We need humans to work together now.  The virus works 24/7 and will not stop before a vaccine is developed. Plenty of countries completely missed on how to stop almost 350,000 deaths and over 5 million...

I purchased a used Mini-Cooper recently and my experience went from obnoxious to delightful. At the first dealership. The salesman missed my test drive appointment. His boss had to show up. The car I tested screeched uncontrollably.  The salesman promised to fix the car “if I bought it” Come again?  The salesman phoned me an hour later pressuring me into reserving the car and sending a copy of my driver’s license.After...

When I was managing the Supply Chain Project team that consolidated the IT systems of 9 hospitals and 23,000 users, the first thing I asked for was to map out business processes.  This would provide all team members with an exact picture of business functionality and also make sure all the technical requirements were included as well. The main reason why IT projects fail are due to inadequate Business Process maps producing poor gap...