Background: Often projects begin with good intentions only to end up in a vastly different place and/or shape than was intended. At times processes evolve and in themselves become the output. Project management techniques can assist with keeping projects on schedule, but these techniques rarely help in keeping a project's objective focused. Process reengineering is the fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of a process to bring about dramatic improvements in performance. Effective process reengineering relies on reevaluating the purpose of the process and questioning both purpose and underlying assumptions. Reengineering works only if the basic process and its objectives are reexamined. Questions for Thought: 1. When is it time for a process to undergo reengineering? 2. Is reengineering a new concept or has it been around for a long time and just called by a different name? 3. Is it possible for a firm to be "in denial" when it comes to process reengineering? Can you think of any examples? Does this occur in the private sector? The public sector? 4. Major Burton, in the video clip of Pentagon Wars, is assigned a project that has "lost its focus". Can you think of other examples from the real world?