CASE STUDY

Providing the University of Oxford with Lean IT training and consultancy

Summary of work

ELS was contracted by the IT Dept., Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford to provide Lean IT training and consultancy. During the scoping meeting two courses with 11 students on each course and three follow on workshops were identified as the requirements. The two courses were the APMG LITA (Lean IT Association) syllabus with one workshop designed for leadership & management and the other two workshops designed for how an A3 planning and problem solving sheet is put together. The complete contract was delivered between 20 Jun – 25 Oct 16.

Background

The head of the IT Dept. needed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the way the department provided IT service to the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford. He wanted to bring the department together to work more as a team to deliver a better service to its customers. He was familiar with Lean and felt that it would be the best vehicle to achieve his aims.

Approach

The delivery of APMG LITA courses to the members of the department was seen as the best approach. It not only provided the department with a standard and recognised performance capability but also gave the members of the department CPD by means of a formal qualification and a sense that the employer was investing in them as employees. As well as the courses the follow on workshops were designed to help embed Lean thinking and promote a sense of team working into the department culture.

Conclusion

The courses and workshops were well received by all who were involved with the head of department stating

                 ‘…the team found the training to be both interesting and engaging. Throughout our experience working with ELS we have found them to be flexible, responsive and helpful. Administratively ELS are reliable and straightforward to deal with and we consider the training and consultancy services offered to be of a high standard.’

www.elsbusinesstraining.co.uk