Using Functional Requirements to Evaluate Process Performance Management Tools

Process Performance Management (PPM) supports companies in planning, monitoring, and improving process performance. Many PPM tools are available, but often companies choose not to utilize these tools. Instead they implement and use proprietary in-house PPM solutions. A possible explanation for not using a standard tool can either be seen in the tools´ incomplete support of the functional requirements of the individual company´s business context and needs, or in the missing knowledge of decision makers concerning a proper tool evaluation and selection. These two questions are addressed by this paper. We identified the most relevant functional requirements of a PPM-tool by conducting multiple literature reviews. The functional requirements were operationalized by evaluation criteria from literature. We performed an evaluation of ten selected PPM-tools to validate the applicability of the evaluation criteria. This evaluation let us describe the average criteria coverage for each of the functional requirements and for each tool to elaborate the main differences. Additionally, we analyze tool support of the functional requirements and deduct evaluation recommendations for certain business contexts.