International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR) ISSN: 2321-0869, Volume-2, Issue-10, October 2014 231 www.erpublication.org Abstract — The present research is aimed to develop a comprehensive maturity model for business process management (BPM) based on previous research analysis and then to apply the developed model to assess BPM maturity of 300 Iranian superior companies in the year 2013. For this purpose, meta-synthesis, expert judgment and fuzzy analysis approaches were deployed. The BPM maturity model was developed by implementing meta-synthesis approach and was examined and verified with experts’ judgment and AHP fuzzy analysis. Finally, the assessment tool was developed and 300 Iranian superior companies BPM maturity level were investigated. The maturity model developed consists of five levels and ten dimensions which may be classified into four groups named process, tool, organizational and operational. According to the results obtained from experts’ judgment, process and tool groups as well as process architecture and methods dimensions are of the highest importance in determining BPM maturity. Results of field data analysis indicate a meaningful positive relationship between the BPM maturity level and organizational performance (organizations under study are among Iranian superior organizations). The results also showed that the average level of the BPM maturity in the surveyed organizations is below the average one. Index Terms— Business process management, Business process management maturity model, Fuzzy-AHP, Meta-synthesis. I. INTRODUCTION Adopting the BPM approach, organizations are about to make business benefits via increased efficiency, and agility. In the recent years, there have been a lot of studies carried out on the BPM concept, stating its benefits and suggesting it as a dominant approach for organizational success in today's business environment. (Weingartner, 2010; Lusk, 2005; Hill, 2008; Garimella, Lees & Williams; 2008; Liu et al, 2009; Bititci et al; 2011). On the other hand, there have been other studies indicating the lack of efficiency and effectiveness as well as high rate of failure of BPM projects is several organizations (Karim et al., 2007; Abdolvand et al., 2008). Given the organizations’ accelerating movement towards the BPM approach and developing their BPM capabilities, the important point (issue) in BPM studies is the shortage of empirical evidences which support BPM benefits and capabilities and express the relationship between BPM and organizational performance. However, these evidences may increase organizations’ awareness, and decision making efficiency while leading them to take logical actions in order Manuscript received October 22, 2014 Akram Shafiei, Faculty of Social Science and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. Nastaran Hajiheydari, Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. to implement this approach. In addition, there are only few studies carried out to identify the BPM maturity indicators, whereas identifying the key factors for successful implementation of the actions and movement towards higher maturity levels may be working as a guide for organizations. . In order to fill this gap, we decided to present a BPM maturity model for process management by referring to the literature and studying them systematically. Using the just mentioned model, we developed a tool for assessing the maturity level. Then, we studied the relationship between BPM maturity and organizations’ performance. Finally, we presented some empirical evidences regarding the impact of BPM on an organization's performance and empirically supported the studies carried out that on the advantages of BPM so as to achieve the research purpose. In other words, the key questions of the research we are seeking to answer are as follows: (1) What is the status of BPM in the 300 Iranian superior companies? (2) Is there any relationship between the BPM maturity level and position of the companies in the list of 300 superior companies in the year 2013? The main hypothesis of this study is: "There is a significant positive correlation between BPM maturity level and the organization ranking". Continuing it is explained that how the BPM maturity model was developed using the study of literature and meta-synthesis, expert judgment and AHP fuzzy approaches. II. RESEARCH LITERATURE A. Business Process Management Although there are three items in definition of the term BPM (management, process, and business), the definitions and approaches attributed to it range from IT-based viewpoints such as those regarding business process automation (Harmon, 2003) or process analyzing and improving (Zairi & Sinclair, 1995) to comprehensive approaches (Rosemann & de Bruin, 2004). According to Gartner (2005), BPM means designing, implementing and improving intra-task activities which link information systems and business partners (Hile and Sinur, 2012). The road towards BPM is a difficult one resulting from successes and failures of several other acts, all of which have been created, improved, and enhanced so as to gain a process-based organizational efficiency (Jeston. & Nelis, 2008). BPM is a comprehensive managerial approach which focuses on aligning all aspects of an organization with its customers’ needs (vom Brocke & Rosemann, 2010). According to the reports published by IT sector, as a result of using service-oriented-architecture (SOA), business management has become more popular and is being replaced by great organizational resources planning systems strategies Developing a business process management maturity model: A study of 300 Iranian superior companies Akram Shafiei, Nastaran Hajiheydari