vol. XVII no. 2

				The Center for Process Innovation Innovation is usually associated with a new product such as the iPod - something that captures the imagination and satisfies demand. But in today's highly competitive global marketplace, businesses aren-t just looking for that next great product idea. They are looking for ways to reduce cost, increase quality, enhance customer service and accelerate innovation. "E-commerce really changed everything," says Richard J. Welke, professor and director of the Center for Process Innovation at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business. "Because of e-commerce, the customer wants it - whether service or product - now. They want a one-stop shop with minimal total transaction cost, tailored to their needs, with transparent interaction across multiple channels." Welke, along with Arun Rai, James A. Harkins III Professor of Electronic Commerce, and Lars Mathiassen, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, developed the Center for Process Innovation to serve four key areas - research, strategic relationships, education and service to the community. The center is one of only a few academic research centers in the country investigating process management and innovation. The professors engage in "action research," working in collaboration with organizations to identify innovation opportunities and design projects to help organizations achieve their goals. According to the professors, process innovation challenges companies to look at themselves across their key processes rather than the traditional approach of separate divisions and products. "The very nature of process innovation is to look at a company from the customer's point of view," explains Rai. "In order to do that, you have to break down the barriers between the various functions and look at the process from beginning to end across organizational boundaries." The center has already engaged in several successful research projects with companies such as Gartner, Inc., UPS and SAP. "Through these efforts we are able to tap into the real world of process innovation," says Mathiassen. "This enables us to produce high-quality research that is immediately relevant to the business community." Back to "Business Innovation" | Top

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