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A fresh look at the history and evolution of business process reengineering

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  • Dag Øivind Madsen
  • Kåre Slåtten

Abstract

Business process reengineering (BPR) is an iconic management concept that burst onto the scene during the 1990s. The concept is often used as a classic example of a management fashion, and already during the mid-1990s, commentators claimed that the BPR hype was over and that the concept was near death. Despite this, evidence suggests that BPR has not entirely disappeared. This paper aims to review and synthesise the literature on BPR and provide a reconciliation of different viewpoints and perspectives on the concept's evolutionary trajectory. The evolutionary trajectory of BPR is re-examined through a detailed study where a wide range of literature on BPR is synthesised. The research indicates that the trajectory of BPR aligns with a typical pattern of ascent and decline, given its diminished presence in current public management discourse. However, a closer look reveals that the situation is more complex and nuanced than this general narrative suggests.

Suggested Citation

  • Dag Øivind Madsen & Kåre Slåtten, 2025. "A fresh look at the history and evolution of business process reengineering," International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 20(3), pages 366-395.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpmbe:v:20:y:2025:i:3:p:366-395
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