As we get stuck into the new academic year and all the work that can bring, our University Business Improvement team have been busy getting ready to launch practical training workshops focused on helping us to continuously improve our work and to develop and improve our ways of working. We spoke to Hilary Whitaker, a Continuous Improvement Senior Manager, to find out more about the topic.
What is Continuous Improvement?
Continuous Improvement, or CI, is a way of working in which all colleagues are enabled to work together to make regular improvements which make our processes easier, faster and more effective in order to improve the experience of students, staff and other stakeholders.
What benefits can I expect?
By adopting a CI approach colleagues can identify and make small scale improvements which free up time to focus on more meaningful work which adds value and reduces stress and frustration caused by bottlenecks and pain points. It can also help us manage increasing demand on our services more effectively and help us work together to solve problems and break down silos.
Beth Baxter, Disability Advisor in the Disability Support Service, attended one of the sessions, following which she said:
I have a renewed energy, motivation and hope of seeing CI principles embedded consistently across the institution.
Lucy Haworth, Senior Manager in HR People and Pay Services, worked with the Business Improvement team to implement CI ways of working. She said: “By embracing and applying the CI tools and techniques we have reduced waste which has helped enhance the efficiency of the team’s processes. Regular reviews of our systems and practices has also helped support the reduction in duplication of work within the team, enabling us to better meet our customer expectations. Encouraging the contribution of ideas from colleagues has led to team members' increased confidence in the processes.”
The Business Improvement team, l-r Hilary Whitaker, Simon Crisp and Catherine Paine
Keen to learn more?
Why not join the upcoming DU Professional Demystifying Series focused on CI and meet members of the team. The in-person event will take place between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on Thursday 28 November in the Confluence Building. Book your place now as spaces are limited.
Or, if you’re keen to learn more about the topic and the practical techniques you can apply in your own role, why not join one of the team’s ‘Introduction to Continuous Improvement’ half-day in-person workshops. Booking is required.
These workshops will give a better understanding of:
- What continuous improvement is.
- Continuous improvement principles.
- Understanding value, waste and failure demand.
- Understanding flow and what causes bottlenecks in processes.
- How to identify and progress opportunities for improvement.
You can also find out more about the team and their work at the Continuous Improvement SharePoint Hub
You can find out more from the Business Improvement team at the DU Professional Ways of Working Showcase which is being planned for the Easter Term.