Flevy Management Insights Case Study
Streamlined Process Redesign for Life Sciences Firm in North America
     Joseph Robinson    |    Process Analysis and Design


Fortune 500 companies typically bring on global consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture, or boutique consulting firms specializing in Process Analysis and Design to thoroughly analyze their unique business challenges and competitive situations. These firms provide strategic recommendations based on consulting frameworks, subject matter expertise, benchmark data, KPIs, best practices, and other tools developed from past client work. We followed this management consulting approach for this case study.

TLDR A North American life sciences firm faced increased time-to-market for products due to internal process inefficiencies despite heavy R&D investment. By optimizing Process Analysis and Design, the organization reduced operational costs by 20% and decreased time-to-market by 35%, highlighting the importance of effective Change Management and employee engagement in driving operational improvements.

Reading time: 7 minutes

Consider this scenario: A North American life sciences firm specializing in biotech research and development is facing increased time-to-market for their products.

Despite significant investment in R&D, the organization's internal process inefficiencies have led to delayed project timelines and a competitive disadvantage. The organization aims to optimize their Process Analysis and Design to improve operational efficiency and reduce the time-to-market for new innovations.



The organization's current challenges may stem from outdated Process Analysis and Design methodologies which have not scaled with the organization's growth, or a misalignment of processes with the rapid innovation required in the life sciences sector. There could also be a lack of integration between departments, leading to siloed efforts and duplicated work.

Strategic Analysis and Execution Methodology

A structured, multi-phase approach to Process Analysis and Design can provide significant benefits to the organization, such as increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved agility. This methodology is akin to those followed by leading consulting firms.

  1. Problem Definition and Scope: Identify the areas of process inefficiency and set clear objectives for the redesign initiative. Key activities include stakeholder interviews, process documentation review, and performance metrics analysis. Potential insights could reveal bottlenecks and redundant steps in the process.
  2. Data Collection and Analysis: Gather quantitative and qualitative data on current processes. Techniques include time-motion studies, workflow analysis, and employee surveys. Common challenges include data inconsistencies and stakeholder resistance.
  3. Process Reengineering: Develop new process models that align with strategic goals. Activities involve cross-functional workshops, benchmarking against industry standards, and leveraging technology for process automation. Interim deliverables may include process maps and reengineering reports.
  4. Implementation Planning: Create a detailed plan for executing the new processes, including resource allocation, timelines, and risk management strategies. It is crucial to develop a change management plan to address potential resistance.
  5. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: Establish KPIs to measure the performance of newly implemented processes and refine them based on feedback and evolving business needs. Regular reviews are essential to ensure the sustainability of process improvements.

For effective implementation, take a look at these Process Analysis and Design best practices:

Business Process Master List (BPML) Template (Excel workbook)
Business Process Improvement (BPI 7) (139-slide PowerPoint deck and supporting Word)
Business Process Reengineering (BPR) (157-slide PowerPoint deck and supporting PDF)
Ultimate Business Processes Guidebook (333-slide PowerPoint deck)
Process (1) - Modelling (16-slide PowerPoint deck)
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Process Analysis and Design Implementation Challenges & Considerations

Ensuring alignment between redesigned processes and organizational goals is critical. The new processes must be flexible to adapt to the dynamic nature of the life sciences industry. Additionally, gaining buy-in from all levels of the organization is essential for a successful implementation.

After full implementation, the organization can expect reduced operational costs by 15-25%, a 30-40% reduction in time-to-market for new products, and improved cross-departmental collaboration.

Potential challenges include managing change resistance, integrating new technology with legacy systems, and maintaining process improvements over time.

Process Analysis and Design KPIs

KPIS are crucial throughout the implementation process. They provide quantifiable checkpoints to validate the alignment of operational activities with our strategic goals, ensuring that execution is not just activity-driven, but results-oriented. Further, these KPIs act as early indicators of progress or deviation, enabling agile decision-making and course correction if needed.


What gets measured gets managed.
     – Peter Drucker

  • Time-to-Market: Measures the time from concept to launch.
  • Process Cycle Efficiency: The ratio of value-added time to total cycle time.
  • Employee Adoption Rate: Percentage of employees following new processes.

For more KPIs, take a look at the Flevy KPI Library, one of the most comprehensive databases of KPIs available. Having a centralized library of KPIs saves you significant time and effort in researching and developing metrics, allowing you to focus more on analysis, implementation of strategies, and other more value-added activities.

Learn more about Flevy KPI Library KPI Management Performance Management Balanced Scorecard

Implementation Insights

Throughout the implementation, it became evident that clear communication and involvement of employees at all levels were key to overcoming resistance to change. A study by McKinsey found that transformation success rates improve significantly when senior managers communicate openly about the transformation’s progress.

Process Analysis and Design Deliverables

  • Process Redesign Plan (PowerPoint)
  • Operational Efficiency Report (PDF)
  • Change Management Guidelines (MS Word)
  • Performance Dashboards (Excel)
  • Post-Implementation Review Document (MS Word)

Explore more Process Analysis and Design deliverables

Process Analysis and Design Best Practices

To improve the effectiveness of implementation, we can leverage best practice documents in Process Analysis and Design. These resources below were developed by management consulting firms and Process Analysis and Design subject matter experts.

Process Analysis and Design Case Studies

A major pharmaceutical company underwent a process redesign which resulted in a 50% reduction in their drug development cycle, significantly enhancing their competitive position in the market.

A biotechnology firm implemented advanced data analytics in their R&D processes, leading to a 20% increase in operational efficiency and a marked improvement in innovation throughput.

Explore additional related case studies

Integration of New Processes with Existing Systems

Integrating new processes with existing systems can be complex, often requiring a careful balance between maintaining operational continuity and introducing improvements. To tackle this, a phased integration approach is recommended, starting with pilot programs in non-critical areas to test and refine the process changes before a full-scale rollout. According to a report by KPMG, companies that adopt a phased approach to integration report 26% more satisfaction with the implementation process than those that go for a 'big bang' approach.

Additionally, it is imperative to involve IT teams early in the process design phase to ensure that new processes are compatible with existing technological infrastructure. This collaboration can help identify potential technical issues early and allow for the development of appropriate IT strategies to support the process changes.

Measuring the Success of Process Redesign

Success measurement is critical for any process redesign initiative. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) should be established at the outset to track progress and impact. These should include both leading indicators, such as employee adoption rates, and lagging indicators, such as time-to-market and cost savings. According to Bain & Company, organizations that define and closely monitor their KPIs are 4x more likely to achieve their strategic goals.

Regularly scheduled reviews of these KPIs will help the organization to not only measure outcomes but also to iterate and improve the processes continuously. It is also beneficial to benchmark against industry standards to gauge the organization's performance relative to peers, which can offer additional insights into areas for improvement.

Change Management and Employee Adoption

Change management is often the most challenging aspect of process redesign. Ensuring employee buy-in is crucial for the adoption of new processes. This can be achieved by involving employees in the redesign process and clearly communicating the benefits and impact on their roles. A study by Prosci found that projects with excellent change management effectiveness were six times more likely to meet or exceed their objectives.

Leadership must also be actively involved in championing the change to set an example and drive the transformation. Training and support should be provided to all levels of staff to ease the transition, and feedback mechanisms should be established to address any concerns or suggestions from employees.

Long-Term Sustainability of Improved Processes

For process improvements to be sustainable, they must be embedded into the organization's culture. This requires ongoing commitment from leadership and continuous training for employees. Process ownership should be clearly defined, with roles and responsibilities assigned to ensure that processes are maintained and optimized over time. As per Accenture's findings, 73% of executives believe that corporate culture is critical to the success of process optimization.

Furthermore, establishing a culture of continuous improvement can encourage employees to seek out ways to enhance processes proactively. This can be supported by implementing a rewards system for process improvement suggestions and regularly reviewing process performance to identify new opportunities for enhancement.

Additional Resources Relevant to Process Analysis and Design

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Key Findings and Results

Here is a summary of the key results of this case study:

  • Reduced operational costs by 20% through streamlined process design and implementation.
  • Decreased time-to-market for new products by 35%, enhancing competitive positioning in the biotech sector.
  • Achieved an 80% employee adoption rate of new processes within the first six months post-implementation.
  • Improved cross-departmental collaboration, leading to a 25% increase in project delivery efficiency.
  • Established a culture of continuous improvement, resulting in a 15% year-over-year improvement in process cycle efficiency.

The initiative has been markedly successful, achieving significant reductions in operational costs and time-to-market for new products, which were primary objectives. The high employee adoption rate is particularly noteworthy, as it underscores the effectiveness of the change management strategies employed, including clear communication and involving employees in the redesign process. The improvement in cross-departmental collaboration has not only enhanced project delivery efficiency but also fostered a more cohesive organizational culture. However, the initiative could have potentially achieved even greater success with a more aggressive integration of cutting-edge technologies and a stronger emphasis on early involvement of IT teams to ensure smoother integration with existing systems.

For next steps, it is recommended to focus on further leveraging technology to automate routine tasks and enhance process efficiencies. This includes exploring advanced data analytics and AI to predict and mitigate bottlenecks before they impact project timelines. Additionally, expanding the continuous improvement culture by introducing more robust mechanisms for capturing and implementing employee feedback can drive further enhancements. Finally, establishing a more formalized process for benchmarking against industry standards will ensure that the organization remains at the forefront of operational excellence in the biotech sector.

Source: Operational Efficiency Analysis for Boutique Hotel Chain in Luxury Segment, Flevy Management Insights, 2024

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