Category: Lean

Building a Skills Required and Managing Digital Change

Posted on by Marbenz Antonio

5 Ideas for Developing Real-World Thinking Skills

An essential component of any digital transformation plan involves utilizing advanced tools for data management, analysis, and interpretation.

The significance of this lies in the fact that having a comprehensive understanding of data can enable organizations to achieve greater levels of efficiency. However, achieving this objective necessitates dedicating more time to utilizing data for making informed business decisions, which is not always the norm.

Usually, most of a team’s time and energy is spent on tasks related to collecting, refining, modifying, and analyzing data to determine its usefulness. This results in significant labor-intensive work that contributes little to no value.

A change in behavior is required to shift an organization’s approach towards a more business-oriented use of data, with a greater emphasis on achieving desired outcomes and reaping benefits, rather than simply producing outputs. It is only when data is leveraged intelligently that it can have a transformative impact.

An instance of benefits realization within this organization pertains to the payment collection process for the electricity it generates. In the past, this process was often time-consuming and could take over a month to raise a payment claim with a company. However, leveraging a deeper understanding of data allows the organization to track power generation in real-time and automate the payment claim process. This has led to a significant increase in efficiency, eliminating the need for hundreds of man-hours.

What are the skills required to implement such changes within organizations?

Developing the right skills

In addition to possessing data and machine learning engineering skills, organizations require individuals with expertise in change management.

An important aspect of this process involves training ourselves to ask the appropriate questions. For instance, in digital transformation, instead of inquiring about what people want (which usually centers on present needs rather than those required for a transformed future), they have learned to comprehend the tasks they perform. Their needs, and subsequently suggest suitable solutions.

Acquiring the skills necessary for achieving this objective requires a focus on continuous improvement, which can be gleaned from various best practice sources.

  1. PRINCE2 for the overall roadmap – The classic project management approach offered by PRINCE2, along with its association with program management, continues to be one of the most effective means of communicating with senior management regarding our initiatives.
  2. PRINCE2 Agile – understanding the agile world – Suppose your organization, like theirs, is transitioning towards a fully agile approach to software or product delivery, utilizing methodologies such as Scrum. In that case, PRINCE2 Agile can assist in managing ideas in a more sequential manner before engaging agile teams for development. This involves implementing two-week sprints, daily stand-ups, and a meeting every two weeks to review the roadmap with various individuals in the team.
  3. ITIL 4 and digital strategy – ITIL 4 has proven to be highly valuable in assisting me in devising a digital strategy. As the Head of AI Implementation, comprehending how digital strategy translates into practical implementation is critical for my role.
    How does collaboration between individuals possessing varying skills to work? In their organization, the majority of individuals do not necessarily require a deep understanding of the agile framework. Instead, they can approach these activities from a project perspective without needing to be directly involved with the framework.
    Pure developers must comprehend the broad business objectives but can concentrate solely on agile development without engaging in the planning of the roadmap.

A blended approach to best practice

In contemporary times, it is an inescapable truth that organizations undergoing digital transformation require appropriate tools for the job, necessitating the integration of diverse sets of best practice skills into their firms. This, in turn, gives rise to new breeds of individuals possessing innovative approaches and occupying novel roles.

Effective communication is also an important aspect of this process. Right from the commencement of a transformation, it entails fostering closer relationships with people and inspiring them about the anticipated changes.

Leveraging data for facilitating transformation, which may encompass machines and artificial intelligence, should not merely be restricted to the composition of computer code but should instead be viewed as a journey of progress that people must actively participate in and feel enthusiastic about.

 

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in Agile, DevOps, ITIL 4, Lean, PRINCE2Tagged , , , , , Leave a Comment on Building a Skills Required and Managing Digital Change

Using ITIL 4 to Bridge the IT/Business Gap

Posted on by Marbenz Antonio

ITIL® 4 Certification Path - What Happens with my ITIL® v3 Certification - ITCE

As more and more businesses and organizations transition to digital, there can still be a disconnect between IT and the business. Even though in 2023 it is expected that digital transformation and business/IT should be integrated, there may still be some organizations that hold onto more traditional ideas and strategies.

For instance, a company may want to expand its customer base and increase revenue but may view IT as simply a department responsible for maintaining technology and staying up to date with the latest developments in fields like AI and automation.

In the ideal situation, a company’s strategy would incorporate both business and IT, with IT being seen as a way to generate revenue, not just as a cost center. If there is a disconnect between business and IT, it can have a negative impact on the strategy and the ability to create value together.

Conflicting priorities

When an organization’s strategy focuses on increasing revenue and improving customer experience without taking into account the role of IT, investment in technology may decrease. This can lead to older technology infrastructure being used for customer platforms, which can ultimately result in reduced service availability and a breakdown in the co-creation of value. From what they have observed, it is common for organizations to talk about developing a comprehensive strategy, but in practice, they often prioritize one area, such as revenue, over others.

For companies that want to prioritize digital initiatives, it is important to have a holistic view and recognize that digital transformation comes at a cost. To effectively manage a mix of on-premises, hybrid, and cloud architecture, companies must be willing to invest in technology. While the cost of these investments can be intimidating, it is important to have strategic conversations and carefully consider the true cost involved. Some organizations may be tempted to take shortcuts, but these can ultimately lead to problems down the line.

ITIL 4 provides guiding principles that can help organizations think holistically about their goals and the factors driving their decision-making. For example, an organization may need to consider whether they need investors, new employees, or different skills to achieve their goals.

ITIL 4 also emphasizes the importance of effective communication and understanding how each part of the business fits into the service value chain in order to drive value co-creation. While it is natural for different parts of the organization to have their own priorities and objectives, delivering the services and value that the organization desires requires setting aside individual agendas and focusing on what is best for the customer.

Adopting ITIL 4

The businesses that are most successful at bridging the gap between business and IT often have a culture that encourages open communication and a willingness to adopt new ways of working. Adopting the ITIL 4 guiding principles, such as progressing iteratively with feedback and thinking holistically, can help organizations move away from siloed working and towards a more collaborative and value-focused culture.

If your organization is not currently operating in this way, a good first step might be to focus on improving communication and collaboration within the organization.

ITIL 4’s continual improvement model provides both a sensible starting point and a way to progress iteratively, asking:

  • What is the vision?
  • Where are we now?
  • Where do we need to be?
  • How do we get there?

Then:

  • Take action
  • Did we get there?
  • How do we keep the momentum going?

It is not important if an organization has a low level of maturity at the outset; once you understand your starting point, using a model for continual improvement can help bring people on board with the process.

Having a framework like ITIL 4, which is not limited to IT, allows it to be applied to any part of the organization. This can help break down barriers, improve collaboration, and promote a shared understanding of how to deliver value together.

 

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

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Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare: Creating a Culture of Continual Improvement

Posted on by Marbenz Antonio

Signs you could benefit from business process improvement

Lean Six Sigma is now introduced at Ohio’s Kettering College to create a continuous improvement culture in a field like healthcare, where there is no room for error.

The college, which was founded 55 years ago and is connected to Kettering Medical Center, focuses on providing health workers with education in the sciences, such as master’s degrees in healthcare administration (MHA) and nursing (MSN).

Director of the division of professional and continuing education for online learning, John Nunes, stated: “Our job is to help provide future leaders and workers for years to come.”

“We’re very focused on doing the right things, what can we learn when things go wrong and how we mitigate that risk in the future – this is part of our culture and we know that Lean Six Sigma can help make us a better organization.”

A new cohort of students has already started the Lean Six Sigma learning program that has been customized for healthcare professionals.

Also, the course will include black belt training at the MHA and MSN levels and green belt instruction for hospital managers. 800 executives will receive Lean Six Sigma training up to the black belt level.

Why process excellence in healthcare?

“Healthcare is a complex area and our margin for error is zero,” John said.

“Embracing process excellence helps us recognize that we’re never good enough. And the systems approach to thinking is not usually a natural part of healthcare skill sets.”

“We have a caring team, but we have got to be better at what we do to provide solutions to our colleagues and our patients, giving people a better quality of life for a longer time. That means having an approach that mitigates errors and risks and creates solutions that bring higher success rates.”

The Lean Six Sigma value for students

What will it mean for these students’ careers as they begin their Lean Six Sigma studies as the first cohort of seniors in healthcare management?

John added: “We already had an internal process for excellence training, but having Lean Six Sigma gives our students a gold standard to add to their resumes. So, they can increase their marketability and be seen as problem solvers in any industry or sector.”

“The requirements are tougher with Lean Six Sigma, but the students are excited about getting yellow belt training and how it will help them in life and differentiate them in their careers.”

John expects a noticeable decline in errors as well as an improvement in the safety and satisfaction of patients and employees for the students who move on to work for the Kettering Medical Center network.

“In healthcare, we face lots of anomalies and complexity, but if we can continually improve it’s a big win for the organization and our patients.”

 

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

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Are Lean vs. Six Sigma vs. Lean Six Sigma Different, Similar, or Compatible?

Posted on by Marbenz Antonio

There’s more at stake here than a misunderstanding and a headache. Misunderstandings regarding Six Sigma, Lean, and Lean Six Sigma sometimes lead to individuals or entire companies enrolling in training that falls short of their expectations. Let’s clarify the aims of each of these approaches, as well as their similarities and differences.

Six Sigma stands for “Efficiency First.”

Six Sigma is based on the examination of cause and effect, which leads to enhanced process quality by reducing process variance. Processes become more predictable and controlled, in other words.

Six Sigma has its origins in statistical methodologies from the early European industrial age in the 1700s, although it is most widely identified with Motorola in the 1980s in the United States. New product creation, process improvement, and customer satisfaction are just a few of the sectors and corporate processes that benefit from the business improvement technique.

Six Sigma is used to improve not only individual goods and processes but also whole companies. The technique not only aids in achieving the results that all organizations seek (such as increased revenue and client retention), but it also aids in instilling a culture of productivity, efficiency, and engagement.

Lean: Value Add Only

In manufacturing, service delivery, and general business operations, Lean focuses on identifying and eliminating all types of waste. Lean works to eliminate procedures that do not add direct value to the product or service at hand, and it is used to optimize production and administrative operations.

Check out the 7 Wastes of Lean for a better understanding of the kind of activities that are avoided.

  1. Transportation
  2. Inventory
  3. Motion
  4. Waiting
  5. Defects
  6. Overproduction
  7. Overprocessing

When properly applied, the technique produces a clean, efficient process that adds value to the end-user. Lean companies concentrate on eliminating non-value-added activities from individual processes and the entire business. What’s the result? The highest level of operational excellence.

The Results-Generating Duo of Lean Six Sigma

Six Sigma and Lean are not mutually exclusive approaches that must be deployed separately. In fact, for a more unified approach, Six Sigma and Lean may be used together under the banner of Lean Six Sigma. Six Sigma’s tools and methodologies enable businesses to pinpoint the cause and impact of process inputs and outputs. Lean eliminates waste from these processes and promotes operational excellence to provide maximum value to customers. Lean is focused on reducing the number of possibilities for failure, but Six Sigma is focused on lowering the probability of failure for each opportunity.

Higher-income, less waste, and improved processes are all advantages of Lean Six Sigma for businesses of all sizes and sectors.

The type of training you (or your organization) chooses will be influenced by the nature of your processes, the maturity of your company’s processes, and, most crucially, your personality and interests. Overall, businesses should strive to use all three techniques and will require personnel who are knowledgeable in each.

 

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Posted in Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Six SigmaTagged , , Leave a Comment on Are Lean vs. Six Sigma vs. Lean Six Sigma Different, Similar, or Compatible?