Process improvement can itself be considerably improved by the use of information technology. Distributed and a synchronous group support systems, such as e-mail, computer conferencing and the World Wide Web are likely to play a major role in this improvement. Process Improvement and Organizational Learning: The Role of Collaboration Technologies analyzes the relationship between collaborative technologies, process improvement and organizational learning. It is based on the author's experiences in numerous process-focused organizational development projects where process improvement groups were aided by the support of collaborative technologies.

Reshapes the way teachers and administrators think about people, practices, and policies... This innovative book about organizational learning in K–12 settings reshapes the way teachers and administrators think about people, practices, and policies while providing a compelling roadmap for transformation from within today′s school systems. Key Features: Six interrelated conditions support organizational learning: prioritizing learning, fostering inquiry, facilitating the dissemination of knowledge, practicing democratic principles, attending to human relationships, and providing for members′ self-fulfillment. An on-going case study connects everyday practices in school systems to a holistic framework that helps practitioners understand how their thinking and behaviors influence learning, work environments, collegial interactions, decision making, and innovation. Numerous practical examples bring complex theoretical concepts to life, while a series of essential questions, activities for getting started, and reflective journal prompts allow practitioners to apply content and ideas to their own settings

Lean Six Sigma is the global standard for organizing the design, data-based improvement and control of business processes. Well-designed and controlled processes are key in achieving and sustaining operational excellence. They ensure the quality of service and care, the reliability and safety of work that is done, and a timely processing with short waiting times. High quality processes will at the same time improve the operation’s flexibility. Thereby allowing one to adjust to changes in demand and other circumstances. An organizational capability to harness data-based process improvement, finally, facilitates organizational learning and is foundational for the fruitful implementation of ever increasing digitization and automation opportunities. Lean Six Sigma offers a complete model for shaping modern continuous improvement programs in organizations. The methodology is built on principles and methods for fact-based process improvement that have proven themselves over the last decades, and will continue to do so in the decades to come. Having emerged in manufacturing, the approach continuously evolved and gained tremendous momentum in the services and healthcare industries. This book offers a thorough and pragmatic account of Lean Six Sigma project- and programme implementation with a special focus on applications in services and healthcare organizations.

This new edition of this bestselling guide offers an integrated approach to process improvement that delivers quick and substantial results in quality and productivity in diverse settings. The authors explore their Model for Improvement that worked with international improvement efforts at multinational companies as well as in different industries such as healthcare and public agencies. This edition includes new information that shows how to accelerate improvement by spreading changes across multiple sites. The book presents a practical tool kit of ideas, examples, and applications.

The ability of a business to engage in real organizational learning and to do so faster and in a more sustainable way than its competitors is being increasingly seen as an essential component of success. In Making Sense of Organizational Learning, Cyril Kirwan examines the wide range of factors necessary to create and sustain organizational learning and knowledge at all levels. At the individual level, the generation of continuous learning opportunities and reflection on experiences are critically important. At the team level, it’s about encouraging collaboration, team learning and the sharing of knowledge. At the organizational level, the emphasis is on building systems to capture and share knowledge and providing strategic leadership for learning. The book shows you how you can best exploit the knowledge that already exists within your organization while at the same time develop the capability of the people that work there. It deals in turn with individual learning; learning with others; learning in organizations; and in particular the role of the HR function and of line managers. Each chapter provides theoretical background and real-world examples. Diagnostic questionnaires, checklists and other tools are also included. Making Sense of Organizational Learning provides an evidence-based argument for the adoption of effective organizational learning policies and practices, and offers a real opportunity to improve performance. Thinking practitioners working in and around learning and development or organization development will find it invaluable, as will those undertaking post-graduate study in HR and related disciplines.

Knowledge management (KM) is a set of relatively-new organizational activities that are aimed at improving knowledge, knowledge-related practices, organizational behaviors and decisions and organizational performance. KM focuses on knowledge processes—knowledge creation, acquisition, refinement, storage, transfer, sharing and utilization. These processes support organizational processes involving innovation, individual learning, collective learning and collaborative decision-making. The “intermediate outcomes” of KM are improved organizational behaviors, decisions, products, services, processes and relationships that enable the organization to improve its overall performance. Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning presents some 20 papers organized into five sections covering basic concepts of knowledge management; knowledge management issues; knowledge management applications; measurement and evaluation of knowledge management and organizational learning; and organizational learning.

'Lean Six Sigma is the global standard for organizing the design, data-based improvement and control of business processes.

This book advances a design-based approach for the investigationand creation of sustainable organizations. The learning-by-designframework is utilized to examine learning in six successfulcompanies in different industries and national settings andprovides a roadmap for improving systematic learning inorganizations. Investigates learning-by-design in successful companies. Focuses on the choices organizations make about the design oflearning mechanisms. Built around six detailed case studies taken from differentindustries and national settings. Provides a framework for improving the conditions forsystematic and sustainable learning in organizations. Offers a clear process model for action and change.

If you have questions about how to meet the demands of the new economy, corporate and organizational agendas, and the changing workplace you will find the answers in this well-written and concise book. Reengineering the Training Function provides a plan of action rich in strategies and tactics, full of specific guidelines and tools that can be put to use immediately. Learn how successful business reengineering and training practices parallel the reengineering of business processes. Any business that wants to remain competitive in a global marketplace will find this book relevant. Put these guidelines to work immediately to conduct a strategic training audit prior to initiating any reengineering process. You can change the process of training and control the new continuous learning organization with Reengineering the Training Function.