Business Improvement
The Business Improvement service works across academic and professional services to optimise operations. We aim to ensure that people, processes, and systems work together.
From October 2021 the Business Improvement service will be part of the University Strategy Hub, however still offers the services below.
We offer facilitation, training, and support. We lead an internal community of practice, and we advise and provide appropriate assistance to strategic projects. Working externally ensures we are continually improving.
Our services are open to the entire University community.
Click the headings below to find out more about these, and how you can take advantage of them.
Contact us by emailing: s.yorkstone@napier.ac.uk calling: (0131 455)5006 / 07718 969 123
Or why not book a 20 appointment for a quick discussion, rapid problem solving, discussing potential BI support and sharing suggestions on approaches to take: book now
Strategic Activity
Process Improvement, Coaching, Facilitation and Support
Training and Community of Practice
External Work
We prioritise activity supporting strategically significant developments.
For example we are currently working to deliver a large portfolio of process improvement activity as part of the Curriculum Management project.
During the pandemic we have worked to support activity such as our Covid Health Helpline, and the Edinburgh-wide Student Test Centre.
If you would like support for your work book a 20 appointment to discuss how we can support or email s.yorkstone@napier.ac.uk
Process Improvement
We offer facilitation for service design and process improvement. This offers an opportunity to identify, analyse and to improve the processes that current exist within the departments, or to think differently about how we can structure and offer what we do.
If you would like support for your work book a 20 appointment to discuss how we can support or email s.yorkstone@napier.ac.uk
Coaching
We work with a small number of internal and external colleagues to provide coaching. If you already are one of our clients you can book your next appointment here: book now, or alternatively book a 20 appointment to discuss how we can support, or email s.yorkstone@napier.ac.uk.
Facilitation
We offer a facilitation service for colleagues to support in running group activities online and in person, and we provide advice for fellow facilitators on intervention design. We follow the International Association of Facilitators code of ethics on facilitation.
If you would like support for your work book a 20 appointment to discuss how we can support or email s.yorkstone@napier.ac.uk
Support
Sometimes a short discussion can help unlock a problem. We offer open appointments to support Business Improvement, focusing on: An existing area of work, process improvement question, facilitation design, technical support, distributed working, Programme Roadmap or another relevant area. Let us know the area to cover when you book here, or email s.yorkstone@napier.ac.uk
Community of Practice
We support colleagues to meet and share.
To become part of our community and receive invitations to upcoming events sign up to our email distribution list by emailing us and pressing send!
BIG Brown Bag Lunch and Learn
Every month a short lunchtime meeting with an invited speaker, an exercise, or a discussion topic. Scheduled from 12:30pm – 1:30pm it is an informal opportunity to network with colleagues, learn from each other and share experiences of business improvement!
The Business Improvement Jam!
Every month an opportunity for our community of practice to have an open discussion.
We know that learning can happen when we meet with an open agenda. So, this is an opportunity for colleagues to meet in a small group to bounce ideas around, discuss problem solving approaches, and work together to keep improving the important work that we all do. There is no set agenda, but it will be a 90 minute facilitated conversation. Perhaps bring a success to share, or a challenge to discuss, or come to listen… and we will work together to act as a board of advisors for each other to navigate the situations we find ourselves in.
It's a bit of an experiment, and like an action learning set we will create the sessions together, join us!
Training
Working in conjunction with HR Learning & Development we offer a series of training activities:
Applying Lean Management
How could Lean Management be relevant to you? Learn and evaluate the principles of Lean Management, to apply them in your context. A 12 week programme of certificated online learning, supplemented by 5 videoconference discussion groups and a videoconference guest lecture. More information and booking via HR Connect.
Further information available on the HR intranet pages.
Continuous Improvement Tools and Thinking Online
Is continuous improvement about the tools you use, or how you use them? Experience an online group continuous improvement exercise and discover some tools you can use. A half day videoconference. More information and booking via HR Connect.
Further information available on the HR intranet pages.
Process Spotting and Mapping Online
What is a process, where would you find one, and how would you describe it? Work on an online whiteboard to understand the principles of process mapping and create a process map. A programme of 4 short webinars, the same time every day, over one week. More information and booking via HR Connect.
Further information available on the HR intranet pages
Lean HE
Lean in Higher Education (Lean HE) is an organisation that aims to ensure that businesses and educational organisations continuously improve their standards of practice. Lean HE offers a wide range of events and workshops to help with business improvement that take place all over the month.
Lean HE Festival
In 2020 we co-led this global festival of learning, check out more information here: Lean HE Festival
Publications
Steve Yorkstone, our internal consultant has written on Business Improvement including “Lean Universities” in the Award winning ‘Routledge Companion to Lean Management’ and Edited ‘Global Lean for Higher Education: A themed Anthology of Case Studies, Approaches and Tools’ that was published in 2019. Find out more about the publications.
Follow us on Social Media
Steve Yorkstone on Twitter: https://twitter.com/steveyorkstone
Lean HE Twitter: https://twitter.com/leanheglobal