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Introduction to Improving Organizational Processes

Better Outcomes through Process Improvement

When you understand your unique talents and develop them into strengths, your whole world can change!

Using discussions, templates and hands-on activities including a role-play simulation, you will examine how to plan and facilitate online process improvement workshops. You will become familiar with the steps to conduct a process improvement effort.

YOU WILL LEARN:

  • What types of business processes are worthwhile to improve
  • Who needs to be at the table for an improvement effort
  • How to make your improvement efforts successful at the organizational level
  • A straight-forward method to plan process improvement workshops
  • Tips to facilitate healthy, information-rich discussions
  • Online meeting and whiteboard tools to empower an interactive discussion

SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

  • Select a worthwhile process to improve
  • Identify who needs to participate in an improvement effort
  • Weigh approaches to workshop facilitation
  • Draft a step by step plan to conduct your improvement effort
  • Craft discussion questions that encourage productive discussions
  • Use an online discussion and whiteboard tool to support dynamic brainstorming and process mapping
  • Outline ways to report or present your process improvement results

Enroll in Introduction to Improving Organizational Processes

Dates and Times

Thursday, February 6, 2025, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location

Live via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent prior to the first session of the course.

Fees

$299 per person

Benefits of Attending

This course provides an overview of how to lead, or participate in, process improvement efforts for your organization. Participants will receive:

  • A guide to lay out your online Whiteboard to facilitate process improvement online.
  • Sample templates for meeting agendas and workshop reports
  • An online Process Improvement Handbook containing links to examples, templates, and other resources.

Who Should Attend

This course is appropriate for:

  • Managers who recommend or lead process improvement efforts in their organization
  • Employees/volunteers with the direct process expertise who may participate in improving these processes
  • Trainers/facilitators who seek to incorporate process improvement techniques into their toolbox

Presenters

Rob Anson

Dr. Anson is Emeritus Professor of Information Systems at Boise State University, and currently owner of Hot Rocks Consulting. He has over 30 years of consulting experience facilitating meetings and Business Process Re-Engineering workshops, implementing enterprise systems, and certifying electronic voting systems for the state of Idaho. Rob taught for 30 years in the areas of business intelligence, systems analysis and design, project management, and database management. He also taught courses for the Executive MBA program in Strategic Information Systems and Design Thinking. Currently, Rob has a product called PeerAssessment.com used in a number of universities to support student team peer assessment and team skills development.

Steve Villachica

Dr. Villachica has consulted and worked in business, government, higher education, and non-profit settings for more than 25 years. He joined the faculty of the Department of Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) in the College of Engineering at Boise State University in 2007. Prior to joining Boise State, Steve collaborated with colleagues and clients at DLS Group, Inc., to create large-scale performance support systems, e-learning, instructor-led training, job aids, and a host of award-winning performance improvement solutions for pharmaceutical companies, law enforcement agencies, securities companies and regulators, the intelligence community and others. At Boise State, Steve teaches courses in instructional design, needs assessment and workplace performance improvement. Dr. Villachica’s research interests focus on identifying and leveraging exemplary performance throughout organizations. His current research efforts investigate aspects of student readiness for the workplace. Steve is currently working with Drs. Giacumo and Stepich to co-author an Instructional Design textbook. Since retiring in May 2022, Steve focuses working with OPWL graduates and students in the Process Management Lab (PML).

Fran Caprai

Fran Caprai, MBA is an experienced business leader and IT Executive with in-depth understanding of systems, data, and most importantly, people. Her inherent ability to see the big picture then break it into manageable pieces has enabled her to build effective and cohesive IT organizations, manage complex programs, lead and manage change and to serve as a mentor for people eager to grow in their career. Fran’s life-long drive to continue learning has enabled her to move from Albertsons (grocery retail, distribution & supply chain) to BMHC (building materials wholesale and home construction), to ECCO (global manufacturing in the automotive industry), and most recently, to Amalgamated Sugar Company (food manufacturing and agriculture). Each change in industry brought the opportunity to learn about new business hurdles and new ways to apply process improvement and discipline to provide improved solutions. Fran thrives on diversity, welcomes a good challenge, and appreciates variety as critical to satisfaction and success.

Ryan Mays

Ryan Mays draws on over 15 years of learning and development experience in financial services, nonprofits and higher education to help organizations clarify and then resolve gaps in human performance. In addition, he has facilitated strategic planning, guided process improvement initiatives, and served as a nonprofit board member. Along with earning his Certified Credit Union Executive credential from the National Credit Union Association, he completed a Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning from Boise State University with a focus on workplace performance improvement. Outside of work, he enjoys basketball and hiking with his family in the hills of eastern Kentucky.