Q&A: BPM Certification

In Q&A series, Vinayak answers emails and questions from readers. For privacy reasons, name as well as any specific references which may reveal questioner's identity are not published.

Question:

I know very little about Business Process Management, but I want to be a BPM certified Professional. So could you please help me out with the procedure to prepare on the same.

Currently I am working as a Project Engineer with 1.9 yrs of experience in the IT industry. My Skills Area are: Java/J2ee, Autonomy, Plumtree.

So although in technical streams,I would very much like to be involved in Management Streams.

Response from Vinayak:

Thanks for writing to me.

There are a number of BPM methodologies such as Business Process Re-engineering, TQM, Activity Based Management, and Six Sigma followed worldwide to define, execute, manage and improve processes. However, in none of the above areas there is any single world wide recognised body offering certification like you have in the area of Project Management (PMI), or IT Governance (ISACA).

Following are some of the international agencies offering BPM Courses:
OMG's BPM certification
http://www.omg.org/oceb/oceb-faqs.htm

International Process and Performance Institute:
https://ipapi.org/

BPM Council
http://www.bpmcouncil.org/bpmc_cert_details.html

BPM Institute
http://www.bpmcouncil.org/bpmc_cert_details.html

I am not aware of content and quality of programmes offered by any of these certifications. My guess is that many of these programmes may have evolved from BPM systems or technical standards such as BPMN. The one by OMG, which is under beta testing, claims to offer Business and Technical oriented tracks as part of their certification.

My advise to you would be to go for Six Sigma in case you wish to pursue career in Business Process Management. Six Sigma is an extremely comprehensive methodology based on qualitative and quantitative tools to manage and improve business processes. So, try and participate in six sigma programme, if it exists in your organisation. If such a programme does not exist within your organisation, then read books / literature (you will find plenty on the Internet) on Six Sigma and Business Process Re-engineering to begin with and then look for opportunities to participate in such programmes implemented by an organisation. If you desire to be a recognised expert in methodologies such as Six Sigma, then certification has to be accompanied by actual experience in implementing six sigma methodology. So, certification alone in this area is not very helpful.

Some of the well known agencies offering six sigma training courses in India are:
Motorola:
http://www.motorola.com/in/sixsigma.jsp

KPMG
http://www.in.kpmg.com/sixsigma/sixsigma.asp

QAI
http://www.qaiindia.com/Certification/frameset.htm

Hope this helps.