IT contractors brought in to work on business process management (BPM) tasks should ensure they maintain a limited focus, a leading firm has claimed.

Research by Gartner has found that starting small is the best way for firms to increase their chances of success.

It advises that projects should start on a relatively near-term basis in which a focus is concentrating.

Other key steps highlighted by the analyst are clearly aligning the BPM solution to the goals, as this will add positive attention to the effort.

Designing the right metrics, achieving goal agreement and ensuring business user engagement is in place are also crucial strategies.

Bill Rosser, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, claims that early, visible and concrete project success is essential to the long-term acceptance of BPM.

Earlier this month, Gartner reported that the business intelligence sector is becoming more popular, which could also create new opportunities for IT contractors.