bpm

BPM most commonly stands for beats per minute, a unit used to measure tempo in music and other audio contexts. It indicates the speed at which a piece is played or sung. A higher BPM means a faster tempo. Metronomes and digital audio workstations use BPM to synchronize performance, recording, and playback. Musical genres have characteristic tempos expressed in BPM, and composers may adjust tempo within a piece to create contrast. Tempo markings on scores or instruction often accompany a numeric BPM, and tempo can change gradually or abruptly through terms such as accelerando or ritardando.

BPM also stands for business process management, a discipline that seeks to improve organizational performance by managing and optimizing end-to-end business processes. Core activities include process modeling, analysis, redesign, automation, execution, monitoring, and continuous improvement. A widely used tool is the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) for creating process diagrams. BPM initiatives typically involve process owners, performance metrics, and alignment with information technology systems and data. The typical BPM lifecycle includes design, modeling, execution, monitoring, and optimization, often supported by software that handles workflow automation, case management, and process analytics.

The acronym BPM therefore has at least two distinct meanings, depending on the context. In music and audio contexts, it denotes tempo; in management and IT contexts, it denotes a structured approach to improving organizational processes.