TQM and BPR ‐ can you spot the difference?

Business process re‐engineering (BPR) has been widely promoted as a technique for organisational survival in an increasingly competitive environment. The initial message and language of BPR was radical, calling for the obliteration of traditional methods of processing business. Organisations were encouraged to reinvent themselves. However, survey and case study evidence of the success rate of BPR projects has been disappointing. As a result, BPR is under revision, with new definitions and new remedies on offer. When examined, the similarities between the revised language of BPR and TQM are striking. This suggests that incremental process improvements are the more viable option for organisations seeking to improve quality and performance.