Final answer:
Reengineering is a technique used by firms to improve their activities or business processes. It involves making modifications to existing processes to achieve better outcomes and discover best practices. Collaboration with external stakeholders is crucial to avoid duplication of effort and shorten the process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reengineering as a Technique for Discovering Best Practices
Reengineering is a technique used by firms to improve their activities or business processes. It involves making incremental or radical modifications to existing processes to achieve better outcomes. Through reengineering, a firm can discover best practices and then implement them. Over time, these practices are updated, improved, and reinvented to become even better best practices.
One of the advantages of reengineering is that it can be done in close collaboration with a company's strategic allies, supply chain partners, and other external constituencies. This collaboration helps to avoid duplication of effort and shorten the time it takes to perform the whole process. By working together, these stakeholders can share knowledge, expertise, and resources to achieve the desired improvements.
Benefits and Considerations of Reengineering
Reengineering offers several benefits. Firstly, it helps firms stay competitive by continuously improving their processes and staying ahead of competitors. Secondly, reengineering allows firms to identify and eliminate inefficiencies, reducing costs and increasing productivity. Finally, by involving external stakeholders, reengineering fosters collaboration and innovation.
However, it's important to consider the potential challenges of reengineering. It requires time, resources, and careful planning to implement changes effectively. Additionally, close collaboration with external constituencies may require establishing effective communication channels and managing relationships effectively.