Process innovation capability in less-structured business processes: a systematic literature review
Business Process Management Journal
ISSN: 1463-7154
Article publication date: 12 April 2022
Issue publication date: 20 May 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Building process innovation capability (PIC) is becoming increasingly important to keep pace with changing business environments and emerging technological opportunities. However, the literature on process innovation capability (PIC) is still very broad and does not consistently reflect today's reality that is becoming increasingly complicated and knowledge-intensive, leading to more organizational needs for supporting less-structured business processes (LSBP).
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a systematic literature review (SLR), the authors provide evidence for this under-investigated subject by consolidating organizational capabilities for managing PIC in LSBP. The authors screened 1,083 and identified only 26 peer-reviewed articles that simultaneously encompass process innovation and LSBP.
Findings
The authors explain which LSBP types are typically addressed, and in which sectors. The authors categorize research avenues, best practices and a framework that links PIC to performance outcomes by also considering business environments. Three theories (i.e. resource-based view, dynamic capabilities and sociotechnical theory) help to underpin the six empirically observed capabilities along three pillars (i.e. people, process and technology).
Research limitations/implications
Besides a research agenda, the authors offer a conceptual framework for PIC in LSBP as a reference to guide scholars and practitioners.
Practical implications
The authors offer best practices, as derived from the literature.
Originality/value
This is the first SLR for PIC in LSBP, consolidating and categorizing the PIC-LSBP characteristics. Due to few studies on the subject, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of the PICs needed for LSBP to obtain the desired performance outcomes.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP-Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan) for the financial support for this research.
Citation
Goni, J.I.C. and Van Looy, A. (2022), "Process innovation capability in less-structured business processes: a systematic literature review", Business Process Management Journal, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 557-584. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-07-2021-0487
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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