Title: Re-engineering: a breakthrough or little new

Authors: Sumer Aggarwal

Addresses: Suffolk University, Boston, MA 02108, USA

Abstract: The paper first provides various definitions of re-engineering. Next, it explains why companies undertake re-engineering and what are the major inputs to it. An attempt is made to provide a sequence of steps that must be gone through for implementing any re-engineering project. In addition, the paper highlights the great risks and problems, which cannot be avoided during its execution. In the end, the authors argue that re-engineering includes little that is new, rather most of its constituents can be found in the improvement programmes of the past. Even the success factors for re-engineering are not much different than those of the other programmes. The paper also provides a tabular analysis of 25 published re-engineering caselets in support of the thesis that reengineering is not new but it can be any combination of action-items which can help to improve the profitability and long-term survival of the company. Finally a few conjectures about the future of such programmes are also outlined.

Keywords: re-engineering; cost reduction; business objectives; methodology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1997.001660

International Journal of Technology Management, 1997 Vol.13 No.3, pp.326-344

Published online: 15 Aug 2003 *

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