BPM360 Podcast - Covering Every Angle

Strap in, process nerds — this episode of the BPM360 Podcast with Holger Wüsthoff is a wild ride through the evolution of process work, from “they dragged me into SAP” stories to bold claims about process-driven AI. Caspar, Russell, and Holger spar over whether business must bend to systems or if systems should dance to business moves — and land squarely in the middle: pick your horse (process), then pick your saddle (system).  Holger brings decades of global transformation scars and wisdom: culture doesn’t care how good your blueprint is, adoption kills more projects than tech ever will, and data is the “secret sauce” no one loves to talk about. He challenges us: tools and AI are exciting, but they’re useless unless grounded in reality. So yes, we cover “process first” philosophies, cloud vs custom tension, cross-cultural rollout tales, and even how printing-ink companies clue us into new process/AI frontiers.  Laughs abound (especially when we mock how AI fails simple image raids), but beneath the levity lies serious truth: BPM without process intelligence is like a car with no steering wheel — cool engine, useless overall.  Key Takeaways 1. Engineers sometimes get “drafted” into process roles  Holger originally came from mechanical engineering and got pulled into process management through quality/ISO 9001 duties and an SAP implementation. Sometimes your path finds you. 2. Systems don’t drive business — processes (and choices) do Back in the day, the system was a “given” and business adapted to it. Holger argues we’re in a shift: pick your processes, and let the composable system support them—not dictate them. 3. Cloud and standardization demand balance In cloud-first/SaaS environments, customization is limited, so organizations need to harmonize processes, pick what’s essential and where differentiation really belongs. 4. Culture + adoption = the biggest hurdle In global rollouts (for example, India vs Spain) you see that mindset, timing, and local habits matter more than tech. Change is slow; having patience and adapting to culture makes or breaks success. 5. Data, not tools, is the real fuel for AI You can have the slickest AI or toolset, but if your data is incomplete, messy, or siloed, you won’t get far. Holger stresses that people + data > system hype. We hope you enjoy our BPM Podcast. Subscribe and stay tuned for more. Please send us your comments and questions to questions@bpm360podcast.com [questions@bpm360podcast.com]

In this lively BPM360 episode, Caspar and Russell sit down with Prof. Hajo Reijers, whose career spans coding, consulting, and co-authoring the BPM field’s “bible.” The discussion is as energetic as it is insightful: from the quirks of workarounds in hospitals to the excitement of process hackathons, from redesign heuristics to the promise (and pitfalls) of AI in BPM. With plenty of laughs, real-world anecdotes, and a contagious enthusiasm for processes, this conversation shows why BPM is both a serious discipline and a source of endless curiosity and fun.   🔑 Key Takeaways  1. Applied Nature of BPM – BPM is both an academic discipline and a practical craft; lasting impact comes from linking research with real organizational challenges. 2. Process Redesign Heuristics – Simple, experience-based improvement patterns have become some of the most cited contributions in the field. 3. Value of Practice–Academia Hybrids – Consulting experience and academic rigor together provide fertile ground for impactful BPM research and teaching. 4. Rise of AI in BPM – Large language models and AI agents are rapidly lowering the barrier from theory to practice, opening new ways to validate, optimize, and document processes. 5. Workarounds as a Research Frontier – Detecting and analyzing workarounds shows how different roles (doctors, nurses, admin staff) experience processes differently, highlighting the gap between “happy flow” models and reality. We hope you enjoy our BPM Podcast. Subscribe and stay tuned for more. Please send us your comments and questions to questions@bpm360podcast.com [questions@bpm360podcast.com]

In this episode, Caspar and Russell kick things off with Russell’s mole invasion at home (a perfect metaphor for stubborn BPM stakeholders who pop up where you least want them). From there, they dive deep into why so many AI pilots collapse before reaching scale, and how process management must act as the “guide rails” for AI to deliver real business value. Expect analogies from mountain bike races, a Dunning-Kruger reality check, and a candid discussion on why “there is no AI without PI.”   🔑 5 Most Interesting Takeaways  1. Moles = Stakeholders → Resistant people in BPM projects behave like moles: they vanish when you need them and resurface in the worst places. Don’t take it personally—understand their nature. 2. AI Pilots Often Fail → Up to 95% of AI pilots collapse because they chase hype, lack governance, and don’t connect to core business processes. 3. Process Intelligence Is Essential → “No AI without PI”: AI must be guided by process context (process mining + management) to be sustainable and compliant. 4. Agility Over Perfection → Unlike traditional IT rollouts, AI requires iterative testing and adaptation—the tech evolves too fast for one-off pilots. 5. Humans Still Matter → While AI can optimize structured, system-based steps (like purchase-to-pay), the “black spots” where human judgment rules remain the biggest opportunity—and risk. We hope you enjoy our BPM Podcast. Subscribe and stay tuned for more. Please send us your comments and questions to questions@bpm360podcast.com [questions@bpm360podcast.com]

Caspar and Russell are back behind the mics to launch Season 4 of the BPM 360 Podcast. After a summer of sun, paint brushes, and a bit of Raspberry Pi miswiring, the duo jump straight into how real-life lessons connect to the world of BPM. From DIY cellar ventilation gone wrong to reflections on process modeling conventions, they explore the balance between careful preparation and agile adaptation that every transformation journey requires.  🔑 Key Takeaways  * Human vs. AI & Automation: Russell shares a hands-on DIY story about automating his damp cellar with a Raspberry Pi — a reminder that being meticulous (and double-checking polarity!) matters in both tech tinkering and process management. * Preparation vs. Speed: Caspar draws parallels between painting a house and BPM initiatives — either start fast and risk rework, or invest in conventions and structure early for long-term speed. * BPM Then and Now: The hosts reflect on BPM’s evolution: from static compliance-driven process maps in the 90s to today’s dynamic, living models enriched by process mining and data. * The Flexibility Paradox: Process management must balance clear methods and standards with adaptability to change — too much rigidity stifles agility, too little undermines quality. * Looking Ahead: Season 4 promises inspiring guests (from academia, industry, and practice), deeper dives into EPC vs. BPMN, and the big question of whether modeling conventions are evolving into something more fluid and data-driven. We hope you enjoy our BPM Podcast. Subscribe and stay tuned for more. Please send us your comments and questions to questions@bpm360podcast.com [questions@bpm360podcast.com]

In this sizzling summer finale of BPM360 – Covering Every Angle, Caspar and Russell take a reflective and witty journey through the highlights of Season 3. What began with pool-cleaning confessions and festival weather banter quickly turned into a deep dive into process thinking, change facilitation, and agentic AI.  🧩 Key Takeaways from Season 3:  * Human-Centric BPM with Mirko Kloppenburg: Empathy, trust, and process models as cultural drivers—on the road and in the boardroom. * Academic Legends: From the origin of process mining with Wil van der Aalst to enterprise architecture with Prof. Scheruhn, this season honoured the foundational thinkers. * Cut the Crap: Roland Woldt helped us slice through BPM noise with sharp insights on architecture and transformation habits. * Facilitating Change: Stefan Hauenschild and Gary Cox reminded us that no process survives without people—change starts with empathy and ends in action. * Underrated Truths: Iris Beerepoot brought attention to the “gray zone” of undocumented processes—especially in healthcare—while Russell and Caspar tackled agentic AI, Lego-based modelling metaphors, and why some process hierarchies just don’t make sense. * Community & Events: With reflections from the Automation Summit in Split and a peek behind the curtain of BPM conferences, the season underscored the value of authentic practitioner dialogue. 🎁 Bonus: A surprise giveaway of Roland Woldt’s signed book “Successful Architecture Implementation” – for those bold enough to shape the next season! 🔍 Call to Action Have ideas for Season 4? A dream guest? A fresh angle? Or a critique on whether we’re really covering every angle? Email us at: questions@bpm360podcast.com Or comment on our Season 3 finale post on LinkedIn – and win a signed copy of Roland’s book!   We hope you enjoy our BPM Podcast. Subscribe and stay tuned for more. Please send us your comments and questions to questions@bpm360podcast.com [questions@bpm360podcast.com]