Triangle

 

Building our vision

The vision for the Lean Team is that it will contribute to a strong, effective and engaged organisational culture by helping to remove pain points, improve processes and reduce waste to invest our time and resources in ways that will address our challenges and build on our strengths.

​​​​​​​Like any other university service here at Nottingham, we are dedicated to delivering positive change to the Universities Culture and Habits, Organisational Efficiency and Financial Stewardship. Subsequently, there are no financial targets attached to the Lean Team as the plan is to balance effort and resource to achieve all of these objectives.

Our purpose is to enable Continuous Improvement across the organisation. We are using the principles and methodologies of Lean thinking to enable that delivery.

Getting in Shape documents Library Email Us UP-Lake-Clocktower
 

Here you will find an overview of how we structure our support to enable and develop a continuous improvement (Lean) culture in your area. This will also help you understand how our joint commitment will strengthen your improvement journey in the long-term.

​​​​​​​Our work aligns with three themes; Culture and Habits, Organisational Efficiency and Financial Stewardship. We have introduced three modes of delivery to underpin these. We can support your team through bespoke or standalone training courses or can work with several cross-university teams to tackle a complex issue.

 

 

Our three modes of delivery

1 Building Lean Capability

Training and supporting teams to identify and tackle issues

Building-lean-capability

2 Enabling Improvement

Working with teams to tackle an issue within their department or cross-university teams

Enabling-improvement

3 Embedding Lean

Developing and connecting practitioners across the University to amplify organisational effectiveness

Embedding-lean

 

 

 

How it works

1 Building Lean Capability

  • We work with teams or departments to introduce the principles and concepts of Lean thinking
  • Workshops are held for the whole team, with additional support for those in leadership roles
  • In these workshops, participants are asked to consider areas of their work that could be improved and take steps towards planning and the implementation of change
  • Reflection and capturing of their thoughts between sessions are encouraged
  • Following this, local teams lead and implement improvements, with our team on hand for support and Lean coaching

2 Enabling Improvement

  • We work with a team or department or cross-university team to apply Lean principles to an identified issue that is a problem or has potential for improvement
  • Subject to availability of the subject matter experts and key colleagues, work takes place over weeks/months
  • A Rapid Improvement Event approach can be applied to scope and follow a process of change to deliver rapid improvements and results
 

 

3 Embedding Lean

  • We offer Lean courses through staff Professional Development
  • All courses introduce key Lean concepts, and participants are asked to consider areas of their work that could be improved and identify the steps that are needed to plan and implement change
  • Colleagues who complete our Improvement Practitioner Yellow Belt course are invited to join The Lean Community (TLC) where they can develop their Lean skills with like-minded colleagues
  • This will help us to amplify the impact of Getting in Shape by embedding Lean across the wider university community
How-our-3-methods-work-together

How our 3 modes work together

 

 

 

Our contribution

1

  • Working with you to confirm your programme of work, desired outcomes, benefits and timelines. We can run a short introductory session if it helps to generate buy-in and identify the most appropriate colleagues for the work
  • Facilitating and supporting the workshops
  • Helping you to identify and confirm your next steps towards improving

2

  • Working with you to define the key issues, agree on desired outcomes, benefits and timelines. This includes process mapping and data analysis with SMEs
  • Facilitating workshops, discussions and meetings that apply Lean tools and methods in order to identify and decide on solutions
  • Supporting progress and actions that lead to the completion of improvements

3

  • Organising and delivering the courses
  • Being available for participants for follow-up discussions to support their development and work. This could lead to engagement with a team, service or group to Enable Improvements or Build Lean Capability
  • Facilitating the Community of Practice and Lean Champions’ Network
 

 

 

Your contribution

1

  • Appointing active sponsorship: a senior stakeholder who can dedicate time to take accountability for engaging participants and attend workshops where appropriate
  • Identifying the subject matter experts and key decision-makers who are committed to the principle of change, available to participate in workshops and the delivery of agreed actions
  • Leading and implementing improvements

2

  • Appointing active sponsorship: a senior stakeholder who can find time to take accountability for leading the change and participate in workshops and discussions where appropriate
  • Subject matter experts and key decision-makers who are committed to the principle of change and available to participate in workshops and discussions and to deliver agreed actions
  • Leading and implementing the improvements

3

  • Managers and Leaders: encouraging colleagues to undergo training and undertake activities, perhaps through ADC conversations and helping them find the time to participate
  • Participants: being available and actively engaging in training, learning and participating in improvement activities while contributing to The Lean Community
 

 

 

My team are ready, what do I do next...

Based on work you have already undertaken individually, as a team or broader group, you may feel ready to act and make your identified changes. In some cases, particularly where there is complexity, the next steps may not seem so clear.

If you would like some support, please get in touch with the Lean Team.

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FAQs
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