Module BUSI55715: Managing Process Improvement

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI55715: Managing Process Improvement

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This module helps the students stand back from the task and examine the current processes within their organisation and to see how systematised they really are.
• The operations within any organisation involve key and sub-processes that involve inputs an outputs across business areas/functions. It is important to be able to identify what these are and how their efficiency and effectiveness can begin to be measured. This module aims to help the participants identify core processes and be able to map their flow through the organisation’s operations, highlighting where critical decisions are made and where performance should be measured.

Content

• The content of this module is set within a medium sized organisation or department perspective and covers the following areas:
• The concept of control and management control systems;
• Quality management including concepts such as TQM, EFQM and learning organisations;
• business process analysis, mapping and improvement;
• the changing world of work;
• organisational development and structures;
• the management of organisation crises;

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module, students should:
• Be able to characterise aspects of organisational development and recognise the stages of transition appropriate to their own organisation;
• Critically review quality initiatives, their merits and purpose in benchmarking performance from which to build;

• By the end of the module, students should:
• Be able to critically evaluate the impact of cross functional issues within key business processes;
• Show a critical understanding of techniques for mapping process activities using the knowledge and involvement of staff and live documentation;
• Be able to design a process map with employees to agree current sub-process ownership and the factual, and more sensitive issues about process inefficiencies/ineffectiveness (duplication, multiple communication lines, lack of knowledge, poorly managed sub-activities);
• Be able to set appropriate performance targets for processes and assess performance against these;

• Be able to critically review, identify and analyse the underpinning key processes of business redesign and of how to gain involvement, participation and commitment of staff.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Through the management profiling feedback and discussion, there should be increased understanding and knowledge of generic management challenges facing everyone in the group (although practical examples will obviously differ). Experience exchange may have provided options for networking and collaboration.
• Lectures and seminars, supported by guided reading, will be used to introduce and explore the key concepts and theories.
• Established questionnaires will be used to help people identify organisational stage of development.
• Case studies and groups exercises will help them develop their own synthesised models which the assignments and mentor support will then help them adapt and apply to the specific needs of their own organisation.
• A major role play exercise allows students to develop the process mapping techniques from prime documents to final flow chart. It reinforces some of the learning from the Leading Your Team module concerning the importance of communication skills in extracting the appropriate information from staff.
• A formative assignment will enable students to think about the impact of stage of development on organisational performance.
• The summative assignment will require the student to analyse their current internal processes in relation to the modules discussed and their own stage of organisational development. This will be compared with best practice examples within the Medium Enterprise sector. They will also consider how what they are and what they do, impacts on the performance of the people they work with. This assignment allows students to consider the practical application of the subject covered.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

A practice assignment covering issues in this module plus the module Leading Your Team develops relevant assignment writing skills for senior managers returning to study

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University