<P> Advances in information technology over the years, have changed business processes within and between business enterprises . In the 1960s, operating systems had limited functionality, and any workflow management systems that were in use were tailor - made for the specific organization . The 1970s - 1980s saw the development of data - driven approaches, as data storage and retrieval technologies improved . Data modeling rather than process modeling was the starting point for building an information system . Business processes had to adapt to information technology because process modeling was neglected . The shift towards process - oriented management occurred in the 1990s . Enterprise resource planning software with workflow management components such as SAP, Baan, PeopleSoft, Oracle and JD Edwards emerged, as did business process management systems (BPMS) later . </P> <P> The world of e-business created a need to automate business processes across organizations, which in turn raised the need for standardized protocols and web services composition languages that can be understood across the industry . The Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and Business Motivation Model (BMM) are widely used standards for business modeling . The Business Modeling and Integration Domain Task Force (BMI DTF) is a consortium of vendors and user companies that continues to work together to develop standards and specifications to promote collaboration and integration of people, systems, processes and information within and across enterprises . </P> <P> The most recent trends in BPM are influenced by the emergence of cloud technology, the prevalence of social media, mobile technology, and the development of analytical techniques . Cloud - based technologies allow companies to purchase resources quickly and as required independent of their location . Social media, websites and smart phones are the newest channels through which organizations reach and support their customers . The abundance of customer data collected through these channels as well as through call center interactions, emails, voice calls, and customer surveys has led to a huge growth in data analytics which in turn is utilized for performance management and improving the ways in which the company services its customers . </P> <P> Business processes comprise a set of sequential sub-processes or tasks with alternative paths, depending on certain conditions as applicable, performed to achieve a given objective or produce given outputs . Each process has one or more needed inputs . The inputs and outputs may be received from, or sent to other business processes, other organizational units, or internal or external stakeholders . </P>

Who controls the processes within the organization—what the organization does