Systematicity and Generalizability in Business Process Redesign Methodologies: A Systematic Literature Review

The systematic redesign of business processes is a cornerstone for organizations seeking to optimize performance, reduce costs, and enhance adaptability in dynamic environments. This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) of 57 Business Process Redesign (BPR) methodologies, employing a rigorous eight-step process to assess their systematicity, generalizability, and core design principles. The analysis reveals that while most methodologies incorporate systematic and structured approaches, significant limitations exist in their flexibility and applicability across diverse industries and organizational contexts. Specifically, many methodologies lack the capacity to address varied business processes, multiple redesign objectives, and diverse modeling notations, thereby restricting their utility in practice. The findings highlight a critical gap in literature: the absence of methodologies that simultaneously ensure systematic rigor and broad generalizability. In response, this paper proposes a roadmap for developing integrated BPR frameworks that address these shortcomings. Such frameworks should balance structured, phase-based application with the flexibility to adapt to varied domains, objectives, and process complexities. The study also emphasizes the importance of integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance the effectiveness and innovation potential of BPR methodologies. This research provides valuable insights for practitioners seeking reliable and adaptable BPR frameworks and for scholars aiming to advance the theoretical foundation of the discipline. It calls for future research to prioritize empirical validation of proposed methodologies and to explore hybrid approaches that merge established frameworks with novel concepts. By bridging the gap between systematicity and versatility, this study contributes to the development of universally applicable BPR methodologies, equipping organizations to navigate the complexities of modern business landscapes.