In this episode of the BPM360 Podcast, Caspar and Russell “cover another angle” of process entirely: the human one. While Russell checks in from Frankfurt between company meetups and Business Flows releases, the conversation quickly shifts from process content to a much deeper question: how does it actually feel to work inside an organization? 

Their guest, Tommi Jo Brode – attorney, workplace culture expert, and consultant at Venice Solutions Group – brings a people-first lens to what many leaders still treat as “soft stuff.” She explains why most culture problems aren’t about salary or perks, but about respect, fairness, time with family, and whether people feel seen, heard, and included. “Little things” like how you react when someone asks for time off, or who gets invited to lunch, often sit behind big issues like turnover, complaints, and disengagement. 

Together they unpack the gap between policy and practice, why people usually leave managers rather than companies, how HR can shift from “the department you fear” to a genuine people partner, and why leadership needs more unfiltered input from the front line. From “undercover boss” moments to practical habits for remote check-ins, Tommie shows that good culture is less about posters on the wall and more about showing up consistently as a human being. 

 5 Key Takeaways 

1. Most culture problems aren’t about money.

Turnover, complaints, and disengagement are usually rooted in respect, workload, fairness, and inclusion – not in base pay alone

2. Policy is what’s written; culture is what actually happens.

A company may “allow” flexible time or easy time-off in policy, but if managers roll their eyes, guilt-trip, or quietly punish people for using it, the real rule is very different.

3. Employees experience the company through their manager.

For most people, “the company” is their direct supervisor. If the manager is supportive and fair, the company feels good. If not, no amount of glossy mission statements will fix it.

4. HR should enable, not intimidate.

HR can be a powerful ally by training managers in real conversations, listening skills, and prevention – instead of only appearing when something has gone wrong.

5. You build trust by showing up, consistently.

Walking the floor, joining a night shift once, or scheduling regular 1:1 check-ins in remote teams sends a clear message: I see you, I’m interested, and how you’re doing matters — and that’s the foundation of sustainable performance and process excellence.

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 In this special 10th episode of the BPM360 Podcast, Caspar and Russell connect with Swedish process leader Jesper Blomster — a self-taught digitalization expert, father of four, and the driving force behind major process intelligence initiatives in one of Sweden’s largest financial institutions. Jesper shares how he built a career not through formal degrees, but through curiosity, courage, and a deep commitment to solving real operational problems. 

The conversation spans personal philosophy (“nothing is impossible”), culture in Nordic organizations, and why meaningful BPM always starts with people — not tools, not automation, not tech buzzwords. Jesper breaks down his approach to stakeholder engagement, ownership, and cross-level alignment, offering pragmatic insights from the trenches of operational change. 

The trio also explores the limits of automation, why “optimizing five minutes” doesn’t move the needle, and how focusing on cash conversion cycles creates real business value. Jesper reflects on Scandinavia’s consensus-driven culture, how it shapes problem-solving, and why connecting people across strategic, tactical, and operational levels is the true engine of transformation. 

The episode wraps with Jesper’s community project AUTOMATE, a global, open network where practitioners, academics, and leaders come together to learn, debate, and explore digitalization challenges collectively. 

A rich, human-centric episode that embodies the spirit of BPM360: complex topics made understandable, meaningful, and connected to real people. 

⭐ Top 5 Takeaways

 1) People first, technology second.
Real BPM breakthroughs come from understanding frustrations, motivations, and human behaviour — not from pushing tools or automation.
2) “Impossible” is often just unexplored.
Jesper’s mindset — shaped by “nothing is impossible” — shows that courage, curiosity, and reframing problems outperform formal structures.
3) Ownership beats enforcement.
If you help teams look good, solve their pain points, and connect their work to strategic goals, they become advocates instead of resisters.
4) Automating five minutes is irrelevant — impact the big levers.
Shaving off micro-tasks doesn’t transform a business. Improving cash conversion cycles or end-to-end flows does.
5) Culture determines transformation speed.
Nordic consensus culture fosters debate, commitment, and alignment — creating an environment where change is not imposed, but co-created.

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 In this episode of the BPM360 Podcast, hosts Caspar and Russell kick off with autumn vibes, coding beats in strudel.cc, and the parallels between creative open-source communities and process-management ecosystems. The discussion leads into a special segment: a live, on-site interview with Mirko Kloppenburg, returning to the show directly from Celonis Celosphere. 

 Mirko shares his impressions from the event, including the atmosphere of reunion, the buzz around process orchestration, and insights from hosting his standing-room-only brain date on building a process-driven organization. Together, Caspar and Mirko dive into the realities of cultural change, the pitfalls of oversimplified BPM narratives, and the increasing convergence of process management, mining, and orchestration technologies — while staying skeptical about fully replacing specialized operational systems. 

Back in the studio, Russell and Caspar reflect on Mirko’s perspectives: the time it takes to build true process culture, the challenges of best-of-breed vs. best-of-suite, and how organizations like Techniker Krankenkasse structure their internal BPM and automation functions for success. The episode ends with a shared conviction: process excellence is as much about people and culture as it is about software. 

⭐ Top 5 Takeaways

1) Culture eats BPM for breakfast.
Building a process-driven organization takes time and relies far more on mindset, shared language, and process ownership than on tools alone.
2) Convergence doesn’t mean replacement.
Even as process mining, modeling, and orchestration converge in platforms, core operational systems won’t simply disappear — API-driven integration remains key.
3) Simplicity attracts, complexity sustains.
Like Strudel’s web version vs. its deeper coding layers, BPM needs both: fast wins to excite people and strong governance to keep things running.
4) Community matters as much as technology.
Events like Celosphere succeed because they bring people together — cross-pollinating ideas, experiences, and practical lessons that pure tooling can’t deliver.
5) Best-of-breed vs. best-of-suite is still an open battle.
Large organizations seek harmony across mining, architecture, BPM, and orchestration — but finding the right compromise often matters more than choosing one camp.
 

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 In this episode of the BPM360 Podcast, Caspar and Russell welcome James Davies — CEO of Kinetic Data — for a deep dive into the past, present, and future of enterprise workflow orchestration. 

James shares his unlikely origin story: from a teenage helpdesk agent diagnosing dial-up modems to leading a platform used across major government and Fortune-2000 organizations. 

The conversation explores why Kinetic Data deliberately avoids rigid BPM standards, how it decouples user experience from systems of record, and why freedom to change is becoming mission-critical as organizations try to escape the gravitational pull of mega-SaaS vendors. 

James explains how his team designs human-centric workflows, enables modular front-ends, and reduces dependency risks that lock enterprises into a single platform’s UX, pricing, or AI strategy. 

The trio dig into real examples — from US Army data clean-up to COVID laptop distribution at scale — illustrating how orchestration can stay lightweight without becoming another monolithic “monster system.” They also tackle citizen development, governance challenges, and the rise of AI agents inside enterprise processes. 

 The episode closes with James’ outlook on the future: AI as a decoupled layer across the enterprise stack, easier integration, more low-code capability, and true citizen development grounded in guardrails rather than chaos. 

 A rich, energetic session packed with honest insights on data, orchestration, AI, and the evolving role of BPM in large enterprises. 

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In their 50th milestone episode, Caspar and Russell take a step back to reflect on the BPM 360 journey—50 episodes, 5,000 downloads, and countless insights into the evolving world of business process management. The hosts discuss recent market shifts, including ServiceNow’s acquisition of Apromore, and explore how major platforms like ServiceNow and SAP are reshaping their strategies toward end-to-end orchestration, process intelligence, and platform ecosystems. They also celebrate the growing BPM podcast community and hint at what’s next for BPM360 and beyond. 

🔑 Five Key Takeaways: 

1. BPM 360 Turns 50: The podcast celebrates its 50th episode and over 5,000 downloads, reflecting on how the BPM landscape continues to evolve without losing steam.
2. ServiceNow Goes Process Mining: The acquisition of Apromore signals ServiceNow’s ambition to move from service management into holistic process orchestration and intelligence.
3. SAP’s Platform Play: SAP’s Clean Core and BTP approach focuses on creating an open, extensible platform ecosystem—contrasting ServiceNow’s vertical integration strategy.
4. The Future Is Orchestration: True business value lies above the application layer—in orchestrating data, processes, and AI-driven agents across systems rather than within silos.
5. BPM Community on the Rise: With new podcasts like Mining Your Business returning and initiatives like the BPM Alliance, the global process community is growing stronger and more connected than ever.

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 In this lively episode of the BPM 360 Podcast, Caspar and Russell welcome Liam O’Neill, Managing Director of BPM-D, for an engaging conversation about how process management must evolve from compliance-driven legacy practices to orchestrated, data-driven business transformation. O’Neill shares lessons from a decade of BPM consulting across Europe, explains why many BPM teams get stuck in “quality management mode,” and envisions a future where orchestration, digital twins, and human-centric ownership reshape enterprise performance. 

🔑 Five Key Takeaways: 

1. Legacy BPM’s Trap: Many organizations remain stuck in compliance and documentation loops—producing models for auditors rather than value for operations.
2. Make BPM Business-Relevant: Process management must focus on clear business outcomes and user value; otherwise, it risks becoming a siloed architecture exercise.
3. The Next Wave—Orchestration: True progress lies in connecting people, systems, and automations end-to-end through orchestration layers and digital twins that offer real-time insight.
4. Ownership & Gamification: Embedding process ownership into job roles (and even incentives) drives accountability—while gamification can make BPM adoption fun and sustainable.
5. Cultural Nuances Matter: Northern Europe leads in BPM maturity—more direct, data-driven, and innovation-friendly—while the UK and others still lean on Lean Six Sigma and QMS traditions but are catching up fast.

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WARNING: This episode is in German - Caspar again exposes his hidden language capabilities! :)

 In this engaging episode of BPM360, hosts Caspar and Russell sit down with BPM veteran Sven Schnägelberger, founder of BPM&O. Sven’s journey from freight forwarding clerk to IT leader to BPM pioneer is rich with insight. He reflects on how BPM moved from workflow automation to strategic process management, shares how he built one of the largest process-management communities in Germany, and reveals how he’s now embracing AI-driven agents to reshape how organizations work. Full of practical stories, bold predictions and forward-looking ideas, this episode is a must-listen for anyone shaping the next era of BPM. 

🔑 5 Key Takeaways 

1. BPM is more than flowcharts – Successful process management lives in the minds of people and how they organise themselves, not just in diagrams.
2. Three perspectives must converge – Strategy, process methods/automation and change management remain frequently separated, yet must be integrated for lasting impact.
3. Communities drive sustained BPM success – Sven built a deep BPM community early on, proving that outside-in exchange and shared frameworks (e.g., the “Eden” maturity model) matter for progress.
4. Automation isn’t the endpoint—Intelligence is – As Sven puts it, pure workflow engines are giving way to AI-based orchestration, knowledge graphs and context-rich automation for the 70% of work outside structured data.
5. Tools change, mindset endures – While BPM tools evolve fast (e.g., AI integration, new platforms), the underlying question remains the same: how do we link organisation strategy to operational process design and execution?

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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!
 

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 In this dynamic and thought-provoking episode, Casper and Russell take a detour from birthday barbecues into the brave new world of AI agents in process management. With their trademark mix of humour and depth, they explore how agentic AI is shifting the BPM landscape—from guided automation to autonomous orchestration. Drawing parallels between past tech trends (remember Excel chaos?) and current GenAI developments, they raise urgent questions about governance, context-awareness, and AI maturity. It’s not about adding another tool—it’s about evolving your entire process mindset. 

5 Key Takeaways 

1. 🎂 Barbecues and BPM Have Something in Common

Just like hosting a great BBQ, meaningful process work involves effort without immediate return. It’s about doing things because they matter—not just for ROI, but for long-term value and connection.

2. 🤖 AI Agents Are Not Just Tools—They’re Actors

Agents can perform, coordinate, and even delegate tasks. They aren’t static tools like Excel—they’re dynamic, learning entities that will actively participate in business processes.

3. 📊 Governance Is the New MVP

Without structured ownership and context-aware governance, AI agents risk becoming the next generation of uncontrolled “Excel chaos.” Process governance must evolve to cover agent behaviour, risk, and compliance.

4. 🧠 Trainee Programs for AI

Start AI agents off in a “guided” mode—suggesting actions, not executing them. Let them learn your company’s business context gradually. Think of it as onboarding an exceptionally smart (but unpredictable) intern.

5. 🧱 Build the Digital Memory for Agents

AI agents need structured access to process context, history, and workarounds to make smart decisions. This means treating lessons learned, tribal knowledge, and exception handling as first-class data citizens.

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✅ Process Models Need Purpose Beyond the Modeler: 

Caspar and Russell argue that too often, process modelers design for themselves—not the end users, system integrators, or future teams who will rely on the documentation. A model is only valuable if it’s understandable and actionable by others. 

✅ Granularity is Key—And Often Overlooked: 

Process models must have consistent granularity across end-to-end processes. If one team dives deep while another stays high-level, the result is a mess of mismatched detail. Defining a common granularity is essential for readability and alignment. 

✅ Hierarchies: Flexible or Fixed? 

Should you enforce a rigid number of levels, or let domains grow organically? 

Russell prefers a fixed hierarchy for reporting and governance, while Caspar argues for dynamic hierarchies—adjusting the layers based on complexity and ownership. Both agree: too many layers create confusion; too few limit clarity. 

✅ End-to-End Workshops Unlock True Understanding: 

A standout story: Russell shares how a customer’s bottom-up process design didn’t match the top-down end-to-end flow—until a workshop revealed gaps in handovers, compliance checks, and system integration. The lesson? Bring people together early and often. 

✅ Naming Conventions: Less Code, More Clarity: 

Caspar warns against stuffing hierarchy codes into process names (“1.2.3.4 Create Sales Order”), favoring clear, descriptive titles that support search and comprehension. Codes belong in metadata, not front and center. 

✅ BPMN Models ≠ Process Hierarchies: 

Russell reminds us: process hierarchies are structures, not actual processes. Don’t confuse categories like “Finance” with executable processes like “Create Invoice.” Keep hierarchies simple, processes precise. 

✅ Process Modelers: Less Ego, More Empathy: 

In a tongue-in-cheek moment, Caspar quips: “Process modelers are selfish bastards. They need to think about others.” The real takeaway: Process modeling is a service, not an art project. 

✅ The Lego Analogy: 

Caspar’s favorite metaphor: Process hierarchies are like Lego boxes—they organize bricks so everyone can build efficiently. Without structure, it’s just a chaotic pile. 

✅ Final Word: 

Process models should serve multiple audiences: the integrators, the rollout teams, the end users, and future generations. Build with empathy, not just logic. 

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✅ BPM Principles Apply to Global Challenges: 

Caspar and Russell explore how core BPM concepts—like executive sponsorship, stakeholder management, process standardization, and governance—can guide the complex task of integrating 27 national defence systems into a unified European force.  

✅ Sponsorship is the Make-or-Break Factor: 

Without a clear, strong executive sponsor at the top (think EU leaders or NATO chairs), no integration effort—be it in BPM or defence—can succeed. Alignment across diverse stakeholders is critical. 

✅ Start with the Big Picture: 

Focus first on high-level domains—procurement, logistics, supply chain, and governance structures—before diving into the country-specific details. This “macro-first” approach mirrors how BPM projects tackle mergers and complex transformations. 

✅ Balance Autonomy and Alignment: 

A key challenge in both BPM and political integrations: how much decision power are you willing to centralize, and what stays local? Caspar and Russell emphasize the importance of aligning on purpose while respecting diversity—whether it’s between business units or countries.  

✅ Communication is the Glue: 

For any large-scale change—be it BPM initiatives or building a European defence—clear, consistent communication is essential to maintain buy-in and momentum, especially over long timeframes. 

✅ Logistics and Supply Chain are Core: 

Defence success, much like process excellence, ultimately relies on a robust supply chain—the ability to get the right materials to the right place at the right time. 

✅ A Call for BPM Mindset at the Global Level: 

Caspar and Russell wrap up with a playful reflection: maybe they should get a call from Brussels—because a BPM lens can provide valuable perspectives, even for geopolitical challenges. 

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In this lively episode, Caspar and Russell take listeners behind the scenes of the Automation Summit 2025 in Split, Croatia, featuring an interview with event organizer Darko Jovisic. Against the scenic backdrop of Roman castles and well-stocked buffets, they explore the evolving nature of automation—from RPA to AI-driven orchestration. 

Key Takeaways: 

• AI has taken center stage: Compared to 2024, almost every talk this year included AI, with a clear shift from generic RPA use cases to intelligent agent-based automation.
• Content over flash: The summit focuses on real customer stories, honest failure reports, and live demos—no over-polished vendor fluff.
• Process before automation: Kasper reminded the crowd that not everything needs to be automated—some issues require optimization or root cause resolution instead.
• Events as experiences: From guided tours through Game of Thrones locations to thoughtful touches like custom hotel towels, the summit goes beyond tech to create lasting impressions.
• Growing, but intentionally: Attendance nearly doubled since last year, but organizers aim to keep the event intimate and high-quality.

Bonus Insight: Want better audience engagement? Present where Jon Snow once stood. 😄

This episode is a testament to thoughtful conference design, the maturing conversation around automation, and the power of asking “Do we really need to automate this?”

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 Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: 

1. Workarounds Reveal the Real Process 

Iris’s research shows that deviations from standard procedures—like nurses jotting notes on paper instead of using digital systems—aren’t mistakes, but signals. These workarounds often reflect system limitations, process flaws, or a drive to prioritize what truly matters: patient care. 

2. What You See in Data Isn’t Always What Happened 

Event logs often record what’s entered, not what’s executed. In domains like healthcare or construction, there’s a clear disconnect between reality and system registration. This gap challenges the reliability of process mining and reinforces the need for human context. 

3. Process Design Should Embrace Imperfection 

Traditional process methodologies often assume linearity and completeness. Iris proposes supplementing them with workaround analysis to reflect real-world complexity. Observing processes “in the wild” uncovers hidden inefficiencies, clever improvisations, and improvement opportunities. 

4. Renovating a House = Living BPM 

Iris’s LinkedIn series drew clever parallels between home renovation and process management. From shifting plans and stakeholder coordination to “workarounds” by plumbers, she illustrates how BPM principles apply even in everyday life—complete with unpredictable dependencies and process entropy. 

5. People, Teams & the Human Side of Mining 

In her latest paper, Iris explores how process mining can reveal team dynamics and human behavior—like preferences, inefficiencies, or even social loafing. But she also highlights the ethical balance: to mine responsibly, researchers must anonymize data while still drawing actionable insights about team structure and collaboration. 

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 Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: 

1. CI Is a People Game, Not Just a Process Game 

Gary Cox’s book, Cultivating Champions of CI, emphasizes that sustainable continuous improvement (CI) isn’t about tools or theory—it’s about developing people, mindsets, and a culture that values thoughtful problem-solving over quick fixes. 

2. The Four P’s of Meaningful Change 

Beyond People, Process, and Purpose, Gary introduces a fourth essential “P”: Problem-solving. When processes break, people instinctively create workarounds. Organizations need to nurture transparency and curiosity to tackle root causes instead of patching symptoms. 

3. Standardize to Improve, But Don’t Worship the Standard 

Standardization creates a necessary baseline—but it’s only a snapshot in time. Businesses must continuously adjust that baseline to reflect evolving goals, technologies, and customer expectations. “Standard until better” is the motto. 

4. Culture Beats Tools—Every Time 

While Six Sigma tools and AI can accelerate analysis, real transformation only happens when leaders connect individual growth to business needs. Empowering people with purpose turns process improvement into a shared journey, not just a checklist. 

5. Cartoons, Curiosity, and Career Growth 

Gary’s creative side (his “Cox Box” cartoons) and his unconventional journey from letter carrier to national CI director show that playfulness and openness to opportunity can be powerful leadership tools—especially when helping others grow. 

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 🔑 Key Takeaways: 

1. Human-Centric BPM: Stefan Hauenschild emphasizes that the success of BPM initiatives lies not in the perfect process model, but in how well change is facilitated across all levels of the organization. 

2. Change Is Not Managed—It’s Facilitated: Stefan critiques the term “change management” and advocates for “change facilitation,” highlighting the need to understand emotional responses to change using models like the Kübler-Ross curve and the marathon effect. 

3. Project Setup = Early Change Work: The podcast explores how transformation already starts the moment a project is announced, impacting employees, managers, and stakeholders—well before the first process is redesigned. 

4. SAP and the Reality of Work: The crew discusses how standard SAP implementation processes often ignore the messy, exception-driven reality of day-to-day work. Tools support only 30% of the real workload—the rest needs people-centered thinking. 

5. From Methodology to Mindset: While BPM traditionally leans on frameworks and tools, Stefan calls for greater integration of soft skills, empathy, and stakeholder alignment into BPM practice. 

6. Why BPM Needs a “Sugar Daddy”: Executive sponsorship isn’t just a checkbox—it’s critical for budget, visibility, and adoption. Finding that internal champion is half the battle. 

7. Clean Slate or Crap Shift?: The trio debates whether BPM migrations should start fresh or import legacy data, agreeing that bad first impressions of a new system can kill adoption. 

8. Tool-Driven ≠ People-Driven: The paradox of standardized software implementations is exposed—standard processes without standard responsibilities create chaos. 

This episode is a must-listen for BPM professionals, project managers, and change agents who want to make transformation stick—not just on paper, but where it counts: in people’s heads, hearts, and habits. 

We hope you enjoy our BPM Podcast.
Subscribe and stay tuned for more.
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 🔑 Key Takeaways from the Episode: 

1. Bad Habits & BPM: Russell kicks off with a personal story about bad habits and health goals – a metaphor for how organizations drift into process chaos. It’s not about the wrong tool or method but the erosion of good habits over time. 

2. Guest Spotlight – Roland Woldt: Roland shares his journey from the German army to becoming a BPM thought leader and author. His new book “Successful Architecture Implementation” bridges theory and practice with a focus on content, governance, and adoption. 

3. Practical BPM Advice: The trio explores how organizations often ignore adoption and governance when implementing architecture tools. Roland stresses the need for tangible strategies, stakeholder communication, and long-term enablement. 

4. Process Ownership & End-to-End Thinking: A key discussion around the balance between functional decomposition and end-to-end processes. Alignment across departments is crucial to eliminate siloed thinking and improve real-world outcomes. 

5. Architecture Is One Discipline: Roland argues that EA, BPM, process mining, and data management are all just different lenses on the same organizational architecture. The goal? Visibility, analysis, execution. 

6. Tool Adoption ≠ Success: Buying a shiny new tool doesn’t guarantee results. Without strategic thinking, governance frameworks, and user adoption, tools gather dust. 

7. Realistic Training & Support: A 3-day crash course won’t create a BPM organization. Adoption requires ongoing training, role development, and organizational maturity – it’s a journey, not a one-off. 

🎁 Bonus: Roland is giving away early PDFs and signed copies of the book! The paperback drops March 24 – check out whatsyourbaseline.com/successful-architecture-implementation for extras, downloads, and pre-orders. 

Final Word: Buy the damn book. It’ll make you better. 

We hope you enjoy our BPM Podcast.
Subscribe and stay tuned for more.
Please send us your comments and questions to
questions@bpm360podcast.com