Dundee and Angus College – External review / AEV (20 June 2014)
Excellent practice
Rapid improvement events
The college has made good use of rapid improvement events since its merger to
bring about working solutions to integrating systems, processes and procedures from
the legacy colleges. Both colleges had well tested and tried systems but they
differed in many fundamental aspects of operation. The merger provided the
opportunity to use the expertise and experience of staff from both legacy colleges to
develop new business processes that would best meet the needs of learners and
staff in the new multi-campus college. Staff developed the rapid improvement
events in conjunction with colleagues from the University of St Andrews who had
experience of implementing Lean techniques in business system improvements.
For each rapid improvement event, relevant staff with the experience and expertise
to examine the issue are released from their normal duties and spend a few days
working out a solution to a particular issue. The team deconstruct existing systems
and question how best learners can be served by alternative and more effective
approaches. The event helps develop very good teamwork as members are open
and non-protective about existing practices and problem solve to find the best
solution for learners. Discussions often trigger a training needs agenda for staff who
will implement the new approaches. At the end of the period together, the team
present the new system to a broad range of senior managers and staff. Together
they make the decision whether the new system can be implemented. Staff are very
happy with this approach, preferring to use a system developed with their input.
To date, the college has undertaken rapid improvement events in relation to: learner
application and admissions; personal learning and support plans; learner funding
and financial support; enrolment processes; and customer engagement. The next
rapid improvement event will deal with reflection and self-evaluation. Customer
service feedback from new learners completing the online admissions survey for the
new admissions process indicates a 98% satisfaction rate.