"Leadership, vision and persistence, more than technology and good project management, are the keys to ensuring successful business innovation."

Sause said there is no "natural home" for BPM innovation, with those undertaking these projects typically two to three levels below the CEO in the reporting structure of the organization.

By 2010, she predicted the next generation of technology, business rules engines, will become a standard element of IT infrastructure. Steve Mackintosh, Bunge Meat Industries IT manager, agrees understanding BPM is crucial to its successful use.

"[Because] we are the largest in our industry, often we can't rely on off-the-shelf products - we need to build our own and therefore we have a [good] understanding of [BPM]," Mackintosh said.

"I would definitely agree that [understanding BPM] would make or break a project; you can't dive into something like this and buy software thinking you'll come out fine."