Leaning Universities Old and New: A comparative case study on the implementation of Lean Thinking in Universities Ancient and Modern, from the perspective of a practitioner

Yorkstone, Stephen

Leaning Universities Old and New: A comparative case study on the implementation of Lean Thinking in Universities Ancient and Modern, from the perspective of a practitioner

Yorkstone, Stephen

Authors

Stephen Yorkstone

Abstract

Purpose
Scottish Universities have experience applying lean Higher Education, in both Ancient and Modern contexts. This paper aims to capture the experience of a practitioner having moved through both these contexts, in order to provide material for colleagues in other institutions to stimulate discussion around best practice.

Approach

This paper provides a side-by-side description of lean-type implementations in two very different contexts, drawing from the authors’ experience in these.

Findings

It proposes general principles that can be identified across practice, in order to support implementations.

Limitations

The paper is limited as it is written from the view of the author; further research is proposed to offer a broader perspective.

Implications

Lean implementations in Higher Education need careful positioning, and good support, but can bring about significant benefits.

Originality

Given the recent nature of developments in lean HE in Scotland, it is novel to present experience from the perspective of a practitioner embedded as a full time staff member cross institutionally.

Citation

Yorkstone, S. (2013, June). Leaning Universities Old and New: A comparative case study on the implementation of Lean Thinking in Universities Ancient and Modern, from the perspective of a practitioner. Paper presented at First international conference on Lean Six Sigma for Higher Education, Glasgow, Scotland

Presentation Conference Type	Conference Paper (unpublished)
Conference Name	First international conference on Lean Six Sigma for Higher Education
Start Date	Jun 24, 2013
End Date	Jun 25, 2013
Publication Date	2013
Deposit Date	Apr 9, 2015
Publicly Available Date	Apr 9, 2015
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Keywords	Lean Higher Education; Case study; Lean Universities; Lean Thinking;
Public URL	http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/7735
Publisher URL	https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-2NNFOO67F0Vlc1eTZsM0tsZ2M/view?usp=sharing
Contract Date	Apr 9, 2015