Chief Process Officer

A chief process officer (CPO) is an executive responsible at the highest level of an organization. CPOs usually report direct to the CEO or board of directors. They oversee the business process activities, are responsible for defining rules, policies, and guidelines to ensure that the main objectives follow the company strategy as well as establishing control mechanisms.

The weakening economyOf where? is forcing many companies to pay very close attention to their financial position. While most organizations are juggling innovative business projects and ideas to find ways to remain profitable, other companies are facing an uphill battle as they begin to consider business process as a road to success.

Even though these companies begin to document and implement processes, they do not hire the staff with the right level of competence to ensure the success of these business processes.

A business process never stops at a “border” of a department or the “border” of a company. Therefore business process management needs its own role and more importantly its own set of responsibilities, budget and training.

The following guideline is very important if an organization wants to use business processes management as part of its structural change. It explains briefly the responsibilities of the CPO and the main roles inside his organization. Whereas the Process management consultant, the Process management coach, the Process management assistant and the Process management IT coordinator are part of his organization and reporting directly to him, are the Process owner, the Process manager and the Process member part of the business organization.

Depending on the organization, the Process controller and the Process auditor plays a different role. They can either be integrated in the organization of the CPO as well as function as totally independent roles.