Enhancing Organizational Productivity: A Systematic Review of Process Improvement Research in Organizations

Introduction and Objectives: This study was conducted by performing a systematic review to identify relevant works and previous studies, with the aim of examining the evolution of process improvement research in the field of process mining in organizations from the past to the present. Evaluating the methods used in previous studies can contribute to the advancement of effective research in this field.
Methods: In this study, the systematic review method proposed by Boland, Dickson, and Cherry, which includes three main stages and eight sub-stages, was used. The three main stages are: planning, conducting the systematic review, and reporting the systematic review. In the planning stage, the criteria presented by Okoli and Schabram were applied. In the stage of conducting the systematic review, 343 articles were identified from databases, and finally, based on the selection criteria in the planning stage, 28 articles were selected for review and evaluation.
Findings: In the present study, the tools and approaches used in the reviewed studies were well identified. Each study used appropriate tools to identify problems and implement improvements, and the results of these studies indicate the positive impact of these tools on the overall performance of organizations. The reviewed studies show that improving organizational performance through various methods and reporting both quantitative and qualitative results has been the main goal of all research. Although there are differences in context, methods, and the scale of studies, they all point to the importance of process improvement for achieving organizational goals. The existing differences in the results are due to variations in context, methods, and the variables studied. These differences provide opportunities for researchers to compare and analyze the results and enhance their understanding of process improvement in different contexts.
The research methods used in these studies range from statistical analysis, interviews, and process modeling to simulation and literature review. The diversity of these methods reflects the complexity and multi-dimensional nature of process improvement in organizations. Some studies emphasize the role of information technology and learning organizations in process improvement, while others focus on the challenges of process improvement in small organizations or critically analyze common assumptions.
Conclusions: In general, different research approaches, including technique-based studies, systematic reviews, and literature reviews, have contributed to identifying and solving organizational process problems and have led to significant improvements. The use of information technology, creating a culture of process improvement, and empowering employees are among the key success factors in process improvement. This study shows that combining appropriate tools with literature review and analytical approaches can help organizations make more accurate and comprehensive decisions and improve their processes. These findings highlight the importance of continuous attention to process improvement in organizations to achieve better results and enhance overall performance. Research shows that using various analytical tools can help identify and solve problems in organizational processes. Tools such as simulation, questionnaires, interviews, qualitative and statistical analysis, and continuous improvement techniques play an important role in improving organizational performance. These tools enable organizations to achieve greater productivity and efficiency by accurately identifying problems, implementing effective improvements, and evaluating the results.