Achieving Business Process Improvement in SMEs Using Open Source Content Management Systems.pdf

Stimulating Manufacturing Excellence in Small and Medium Enterprises, SMESME 2005
Achieving Business Process Improvement in SMEs Using
Open Source Content Management Systems

Nikolaos A. Panayiotou, Sotiris P. Gayιalis and Stavros T. Ponis
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – Section of Industrial Management and Operational
Research, National Technical University Athens – 157 80 Zografos, Athens, Greece.
E-mail: ******@, ******@, ******@

Abstract
Business Process Improvement is a vital issue for Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) all over
Europe as continuous improvement guarantees their survival and prosperity. Many SMEs try to
transform their operations through ERP-driven BPR (Business Process Reengineering).
Following such an approach, panies are facing the need to document the new
processes, design their anisational chart and develop the new and differentiated job
descriptions. The present paper analyses the implementation of a content management system
in a Greek manufacturing SME, using an open-source (and therefore free) content management
software. The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate a case where business process
improvement is supported by a low-cost process management system and the use of a
methodological approach for documenting and renewing business processes in a dynamic and