Part of the Process

Business process management, a method of mapping out a work process, tracking who does what, and automating steps is a supersized version of shared disk drives. Not only can managers look over employees' shoulders and check up on their actions, but they also can reassign tasks, identify holdups and see how work is getting done.

Appian Corp., a Vienna, Va.-based BPM provider, offers software that helps agencies manage their procurements. The product, which is similar to other business process management offerings, features a "dashboard" that tells users where requests and tasks stand and includes potentially useful information, such as a pie chart identifying funding sources. Managers have access to a customized workflow map, which visually shows the steps in the process, from opening a new acquisition request to validating funding and notifying vendors. "The tools we provide . . . connect people and data systems, and measure how well they work together and optimize them," says Michael Beckley, vice president of Appian's product strategy.

If there's a delay, the manager can call the person responsible, or reassign tasks if an employee is overburdened; they also can check that the rules are being followed. Some steps, such as the submission of information to FedBizOpps, the government Web site for posting bid solicitations, are automated. Business process management programs usually are Web-based and interact with applications already on clients' computers, such as e-mail and spreadsheets.