Course Details
Course Outline
5 days course
Introduction to Continuous Innovation and Process Improvement
- How change and learning occur
- The competitive and strategic advantages of continuous improvement and innovation
- Problem-solving vs. performance-improvement vs. innovation
- Innovation and creativity
- Sources of change in the external and internal environments
- Deming continuous improvement cycle: Plan, Do, Check, Act
Problem analysis and targeted improvement and innovation ( The Plan stage )
- Approaches to problem identification and analysis: problem space definition, root-cause analysis, problem tree analysis
- Incremental vs. radical change
- Value chain analysis and process mapping
- Opportunity search and idea generation for innovation
- Brainstorming and idea mapping
- Lateral thinking and creativity
Developing and implementing changes and improvements ( The Do stage )
- Goal setting and prioritization
- Deliberate vs. experimental approaches
- Formalizing trial and error methods for continuous improvement and innovation
- Planning for implementation
- Organizing for implementation
- Test phases and pilot projects
Evaluating initiatives and deciding on project continuation ( The Check stage )
- Progress review structures and processes
- Description and reporting of results
- After-action review and lessons learned processes
- Performance metrics and measurement
- Evaluating and comparing results
- Maintaining focus on objectives and outcomes
Reacting, adjusting, and standardization ( The Act stage )
- Go/no go and resource decisions
- Dealing with the unexpected and obstacles
- Dealing with extreme failure or success
- Standardization and full-scale rollout of improvements and innovations
- Setting the example and leading the charge
- Motivation and morale in a world of constant and never-ending change
