- Key Program Differences
- Four Key Systems
- Launch Coaching
- Continuous Improvement Coaching
- Our Case Study
Key Program Differences
An Action-Oriented Approach
The table below shows the typical differences between the approach utilized by UW Lean and the approach of other higher education institutions. For more information about higher education benchmarks and our approach, download our case study “Transforming Higher Ed.”
| UW Lean Approach | Traditional Higher Ed Approach | |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement | Daily (events to teach concepts, principles, tools) | Event-based |
| Who Solves Problems? | Every staff member | Six sigma/expert model |
| Who Owns Solutions? | Team members | Project manager |
| What's Next? | Mature management systems | Train more experts |
| Teaching | Start with action (immediately putting systems & tools to use) | Teach tools (up to teams & experts to use) |
| Ideas | Right-sized problem solving (emphasize capturing all ideas and improving ease of implementation) | A3 methodology |
| Tools | Tools to improve systems and solve problems specific to the work group | Flavor of the month |
| Leadership | Sets direction and enables teams to take action | Top-down |
| Lean | Improving the work, is the work | Additional to work |
Four Key Systems
Below is the model that UW Lean uses as the center of its approach to develop a culture of team-based daily improvement. It focuses on engaging team members, establishing the 4 Key Systems for their teams, and then maturing those systems over time. Additional information on this model and more examples of the work done by UW’s teams can be found in the Shingo Award winning book, “Own the Gap.”
Strategy Deployment
- Sets, clarifies, and aligns goals to the team level
- Answers: “What does it mean to win as a team?”
Visual Management
- Enables the team to see opportunities for improvement
- Answers: “Are we on track or not?”
Daily Kaizen
- Engages everyone through daily team-based problem solving
- Answers: “If we are off-track, what do we do about it?”
Standard Follow-Up:
- Establishes a rhythm of closed-loop follow-up and leadership support
- Answers: “How can I help you win more often?”
Launch Coaching
200+ improvement events
3 Day Launch — Get the Team Started!
- Project scoping
- Targeted goal aligned to the organization's strategy (50% improvement target is standard)
- Identification of major issues in current state
- Creation of desired future state
- Action plan for 90 days
90 Day Coaching — Help the Team Take Action!
- Baseline
- Follow up on action plan
- Help team to reflect and adjust
- Escalate issues for leadership support
- Document results
- Establish a basis for continuous improvement
Continuous Improvement Coaching
93 teams coached monthly
43 teams coached quarterly or as needed
100,000+ employee ideas implemented
Monthly Coaching
"Improving the work, is the work." Monthly coaching helps teams identify strategic opportunities and achieve sustained business results.
- Set strategy and ensure goals are aligned, meaningful, and actionable
- Review progress towards goals and improve ability to identify trends and issues
- Create action plans
- Standardize follow up
- Document business results
- Provide leadership coaching
- Establish and improve a management system
- Address team dynamics
- Standardize processes
Our Case Study
Thank you for your interest in Lean. Please feel free to contact us with questions, coaching requests, or if you would like to put together a launch.
Download our award-winning case study for free to learn more about our approach!
