‘Spotlight on…’  is our way of showcasing a department or faculty to increase engagement, cohesion and an understanding of who does what in Macquarie. This Week, we talk to the Business Process Improvement Initiative team.

Who are you?

We are….

• Martin Brooks, Acting Director, Business Process Improvement
• Jennifer Bremner, Manager, Business Process Improvement
• Valerie Runyan, Australasian Lean HE Chair; 2017 Lean HE Conference Organiser

What do you do?

We improve the student and staff experience by empowering business process owners to improve the processes that they interact with each day. We achieve this by holding Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs): engaging diverse groups of staff to come together to create and implement efficient processes that meet the needs of our students and staff colleagues. To date, we have worked with more than 1000 staff from across the University on processes from such diverse areas as Enrolments, MGSM Hotel Bookings, Library Scanning, Recruitment and Project Account Set Up, to name just a few.

Why do you do it?

We support Priority 7 of Our University: A Framing Of Futures, “Improving those aspects of our support services to realise this aspiration and vision”. Our work is an essential part of the University’s drive to simplify and clarify systems and processes to minimise duplication while maximising integration. Our work forms a key part of the decision making around investment in processes by drawing together teams from across the University.

Who do you most frequently work with?

Through  what we call Rapid Improvement Events we have worked very closely with a wide range of staff at most levels and areas of the University. We work with both professional and academic colleagues. We also ensure we receive feedback from students by conducting ‘voice of the customer’ sessions, focus groups and interviews.

What’s a recent achievement you’re proud of?

We’re really proud that, following two years of planning, Macquarie University is going to host the inaugural Australasian Lean HE Conference in November this year. The conference, usually held in the northern hemisphere, is moving to Australia because of the immense interest in the Lean methodology and the success it has in empowering business process owners to make change.

We’re also really proud of establishing the Lean HE Australasia Network, an arm of the UK Lean HE Network. Macquarie University was asked to establish, develop and chair this group. This network had its first meeting late last year and now has more than 20 Australian partner universities. As well, we are expanding to New Zealand and Southeast Asia to encourage learning and collaboration.

How do you work with us?

As well as facilitating process improvement initiatives, we provide training to all staff in the Lean methodology. This training was introduced late last year and more than 65 staff have so far participated. For those who wish to further develop their Lean skills, we provide a second half-day session to help staff improve processes in their own areas.

If you would like to improve a process or participate in our training, please contact the team:

Room 100, Lincoln Building; Ext. 6102; bpii@mq.edu.au

If you would like any further information about the Lean HE Conference please email Valerie.