Tools for Process Improvement

Enhance your problem solving and process improvement efforts with Lean Higher Education tools, practices, and methodologies.

Presentations

• PDCA Model – Plan/Do/Check/Act (Power Point)
• Root Cause Analysis (Power Point)
• Continuous Improvement / Problem-Solving Models (Power Point)

Templates

• Project Charter (Excel)
• FMEA – Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (Excel)
• SIPOC / Fishbone / 5 Whys (Excel)

Videos of tools

• Lean Management: Increase added value and identify non-value (Video)
• Value Stream Mapping: 7 Tips to be successful (Video)
• Failure Mode Effects Analysis – FMEA (Video)
• Fishbone, Cause & Effect or Ishikawa Diagram (Video)
• The 5 Whys: Lean Problem Solving (Video)
• Five Whys Tips (Video)

Higher Education and Continiuous Improvement Organizations

• Lean in Higher Education

  

  “The peer organization for higher education staff working to improve universities around the world, using lean or similar methodologies.

  Lean in Higher Education (Lean HE) aims to ensure that continuous improvement philosophies and practitioners within Higher Education (HE) are themselves always improving.”

  You can join the LeanHE Global and the LHE Americas subgroup in the webpage.

• Lean Enterprise Institute

  

  “The Lean Enterprise Institute conducts research and shares practical information that advances lean thinking and practice.  The LEI helps organizations and people make things better through lean thinking and action.

  The LEI carry their mission through: Lean Education, Lean Learning Materials, Co-Learning Partnerships, the Lean Summit conferences, and the website lean.org.”

  You can access the latest information in lean leadership and management with a free subscription for academics, completing the subscription online form.

• NCCI

  

  NCCI is the network for higher education, change and continuous innovation. It covers a broad array of topics pertinent to improving higher ed.

  You will find useful resources on their website.

  The University of Alabama has an institutional membership. You can register through the following steps.

• How to register to NCCI

Useful Webpages

• leanhighereducation

  

  “Lean Higher Education (LHE) is a problem-solving framework used to increase the value and performance of university processes. Grounded in the principles of continuous improvement and respect for people, the successful application of LHE will meet the expectations of those served by the processes, engage and develop the employees who deliver the processes, and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the university.”

  We use the book entitled Lean Higher Education as a guide.

  • Check a summary of the book on the presentations section.

• Liberating Structures

  

  “This website offers an alternative way to approach and design how people work together. It provides a menu of Liberating Structures to replace or complement conventional practices.

  Liberating Structures used routinely make it possible to build the kind of organization that everybody wants. They are designed to include everyone in shaping next steps.”

Useful Platform

• Miro

  

  Online Collaborative Whiteboarding Platform.

  Use it to create, navigate and customize boards,
  collaborate with others and keep your work/project organized.

  General uses and templates:

  1. Brainstorming, Strategy and Planning, Diagramming, Research & Design, Agile Workflows, Meetings & Workshops.

  Getting started with Miro: Introduction Video and webinar registration form

  • Introduction Video
  • Register for an online Webinar