Faculty Members' Perspectives on Lean Thinking in Education

This report delves into faculty members' perspectives on implementing lean thinking within academic programs at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It begins with a comprehensive literature review, tracing the evolution of lean principles from manufacturing to their application in public sectors and education. The review covers key concepts such as value, value streams, flow, pull, and perfection in the context of lean thinking. The report highlights how lean techniques can enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve customer service within educational settings. It also explores how HEIs can adopt lean methodologies to streamline processes, optimize resource allocation, and ultimately improve the quality of education delivery. The research gap is identified, setting the stage for further investigation into the practical application and impact of lean thinking in higher education. The report aims to provide insights into how HEIs in Glasgow could benefit from lean principles.

FACULTY MEMBERS’
PERSPECTIVES ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF LEAN
THINKING IN ACADEMIC
PROGRAMME FOR HIG

Table of Contents
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................1
2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................1
2.2 Lean Background: From Lean Production to Lean Thinking................................................1
2.3 Lean in Public sectors............................................................................................................3
2.4 Going Lean in Education.......................................................................................................4
2.5 Transfer: Lean in Higher Education Institutions...................................................................5
2.6 HEIs implementing Lean Thinking.......................................................................................6
2.7 The implementation of Lean Thinking in Academic Programme in HEIs............................7
2.8 Research Gap.........................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

Aim: Faculty members’ perspectives on the implementation of lean thinking in Academic
Programme for Higher Education Institutions in Glasgow
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
Literature review is one of the most important aspects of dissertation which help in
assessment of information which has already been collected by other researchers. Opinions of
different researchers are critically appraised so that it can help in reaching at specific conclusion
for the research. In this chapter, data will be collected through books, journals, newspapers,
publications and other online sources so as to develop better understanding regarding lean
thinking in Academic Programme for Higher Education Institutions. It is important to gather
basic knowledge regarding the subject which can help in giving theoretical as well as
methodological contribution to overall research. In this manner, literature review will help in
fulfilling the purpose of conveying knowledge and ideas that has currently been established in
operational aspects of lean thinking in Higher Education Institutions. Various studies will be
highlighted so as to perform this function and conduct the research effectively.
2.2 Lean Background: From Lean Production to Lean Thinking
According to Jasti and Kodali, (2015) lean production is a management approach which
focuses upon cutting out waste, whilst ensuring quality. This approach is generally used in
various aspects of the business such as from design, production to distribution. It helps in cutting
down the cost which helps in making overall business quite efficient as well as responsive to
market needs. It also cuts down number of activities which are not responsible for adding any
type of value to the production process such as repairing faulty products, holding of stock,
unnecessary movement of people and products, etc. It has been originated through manufacturing
plants of Japan. However, process has revolutionized and being adopted by businesses in the
form of sophisticated business activities. It is an incredible powerful concept for the business
which helps an organization to remain competitive. It helps in minimum generation of wastes
and reduce the incidences of over production. Since, the concept of lean production was
introduced by Toyota, there are various determinants as well whose adoption has also been
introduced by it. These elements are simultaneous engineering, cell production, Kaizen focussing
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on continuous improvement activities, time-based management, Just in Time (JIT) production
and continuous quality improvement and management aspects.
However, in comparison to this, in the opinion of Santos, Wysk and Torres, (2014) there
are five basic lean manufacturing principles that help in laying down lean thinking approach
which are discussed as under:
 Value: Lean approach generally begins with detailed understanding of the value that is
assigned by customers to products and services. It helps in deciding that what amount will be
paid by customers to particular product or service. Based on it, the cost is determined so that
maximum amount of profits can be generated by organization. The organization then focuses
on elimination of waste. It helps in delivering products or services at the cost which is
actually expected by customers, which thereby assist in reaching the highest level of
profitability as well. The Value Stream: It helps in displaying total of product’s entire life cycle which starts from
raw material to the product delivered for customer’s use and eventually focus upon its
disposal as well. Hence, it can be stated that ultimate goal of lean is to develop accurate as
well as complete understanding of value stream. It helps in examining the processes that add
value to the product. Further, steps, features, materials and movement which do not add value
to the process are eliminated. The inclusion and exclusion may be gathered by dividing
avoidable and unavoidable production and technological aspects. The same can also be
followed in lean thinking aspects as well so that maximum output can be generated out of it. Flow: It is important to understand flow so as to initiate the elimination of waste. Value
stream process may stop moving forward at any point. In this scenario, flow helps in
understanding waste as well which is an inevitable by-product. Lean manufacturing principle
of flow helps in creating a value chain which ensures that there is no interruption in overall
production process of the organization. Pull: The lean principle of pull helps in ensuring that there is nothing ahead of budget, time,
work in progress inventory which can create a break in synchronized flow. In order to make
sure that these factors are achieved, forecasting and scheduling aspects are initiated. Pull also
states that adoption of efficient method of communication is an important aspect which is
needed at each step of value chain activities.
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Perfection: The least principle of lean production which can also be applied on lean
thinking is perfection. It focusses on producing product and services which are nothing less than
perfection. Management has to address continuous improvements and analyse the root cause of
quality problem and production wastes. Steps related to measuring, benchmarking, maintaining
and changing are initiated so that maximum output can be generated with minimum amount of
resources.
2.3 Lean in Public sectors
According to Burgess and Radnor, (2013) lean works on the concept of maximum output
with minimum input of resources. Government tends to work all around the words with only aim
of delivering better education, pensions, health care services and transportation facilities. Funds
are required to be generated so as to conduct all the responsibilities. However, these enormous
expectations require large amount of fund which is generally not available with the government.
It requires adoption of lean approach which can help in delivering maximum with minimum
amount of funds. The type of method used in generating the resources and making facilities
available helps in deciding that to what amount it will be able to deliver duties to people.
However, in contrast to this, as per the views of Bakri and et.al., (2012) lean techniques are
used by the government while addressing problems as well. Research has stated that the
technique has proved to be quite helpful to solve the issues that emerges in public and take steps
that can help in improving overall public services and transform them in better projects. One
process that is used by them is improving operating system which can be performed with the
help of configuration of assets, staff and material resources. It can help in dramatically cutting
overall cost by at least 15 to 30 percent. Cost saving is one important aspect of lean approach
that helps in optimizing quality, cost and customer service constantly. It also helps in engaging
the equipping and engaging employees so that they can focus on creating and delivering values.
It also plays a substantial role in eliminating the steps that are required to contribute in attaining
overall goals. Hence, lean technique is adopted by diagnostic experts, call centre operators and
repair techniques. It is not only helps in benefitting manufacturing concerns but service concerns
as well.
According to Rahman, Sharif and Esa, (2013) government office in UK tends to process
large volume of standard documents. Adoption of lean technique in it can help in delivering
double digit productivity which also helped in improving overall customer service as well with
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elimination of backlogs. The proportion of documents processed correctly also increased by
approximately 30%. Persuading people to embark the journey of lean can help in removal of
differences and reassignments. These aspects are also directly aligned to overall growth strategy
so that effective services can then be provided at limited possible costs. It also helps in
developing interest of workers in performing their duties as well. However, in comparison to
this, as per the views of Collar and et.al., (2012) public sector workers also tend to experience
increased operational efficiencies which helps in providing better overall services and
effectiveness to ultimate customers with existing budget and resources. The money that is saved
by them by adoption of lean technique, can then be used for reinvestment purposes. It can be
stated that it can be applied in any type of organization. Hence, lean technique is applied on
various public services, such as, employment agencies, airport security checks, hospital tests
military logistics and various other organizations. The concept can also be adopted in
development of policies and legal case works. It will help in enhancing overall functioning of
various public departments.
2.4 Going Lean in Education
According to Robinson and et.al., (2012) lean thinking is a basic business methodology
which aims at providing new way of thinking about how various human activities can be
organized so as to deliver maximum amount of benefits to society. It also helps in adoption of
the techniques that can assist in elimination of waste. It is a new way of thinking certain
activities and advertently analysing that what all actions are not required to be conducted. It
plays an important role in sustainable growth of enterprise which thereby assist in ascertaining
that to what percentage overall profitability aspects has increased. In case of education, apart
from reading, writing and arithmetic aspects, educators are required to provide laundry list
services of additional skills so as to accomplish the task with the same original systems installed
in universities and schools. They are required to provide before and after school day care, family
and children training program counselling services, expanded curriculum, post-secondary
experiences and sports enrichment. It generates the requirements of enhancing overall services
offered and provided mandated special education to children. Some institutions are funded and
there are other institutions which are non-funded as well. In this scenario, the management of
schools and universities are required to take actions that can help in facing the issue of limited
funds. Lean techniques come handy in this scenario, where, they are able to develop curriculum
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and arrange resources which is in their budget and able to serve the requirements of modern
education institutions as well. However, in contrast to this, as per the views of Saleeshya, Austin
and Vamsi, (2013) lean techniques help in meeting goals in minimum possible resources through
adoption of innovation and creativity. It helps in providing the ability of doing more with less
available resources. Improvement in the process of education delivery has been experienced by
the researcher with simultaneous enhancement in performances of students as well.
According to Nordin and et.al., (2012) improvement in offers of educator helps in
identification of unique requirements through which maximum profits can be realised.
Researcher stated that education system can also reap the benefits of lean. It helps in
identification and elimination of steps within the process that are wasteful and unnecessary. It
helps in preventing the funds for doing a particular job. In lean, it is ensured that adding value to
the processes can help in delivering the maximum to ultimate users. Process is generally framed
of various discrete steps that helps in defining all the aspects from very beginning to the end.
However, in comparison to this, as per the views of Doğan and Unutulmaz, (2016) lean thinking
helps in enabling and supporting those who perform each process and cut down the waste from
each department as well as resources from the time line itself.
2.5 Transfer: Lean in Higher Education Institutions
According to Stone, (2012) apart from schools and other educational institutions,
improving the process of delivery of education services helps in enabling students to cut through
the competition that perform their best. In order to perform this function, there is requirement to
initiate a continuous improvement process which can also help in promoting re-evaluation and
preparing assessment of tasks. Rather than creating chaotic anarchy, improvement in
independent processes can help in enhancing overall aspects of educational institutions. Bringing
continuous improvements in departments and cross department functions can help in developing
various aspects of institutions, that could have resulted in better outputs. However, in comparison
to this, asper the views of Lyons and et.al., (2013) adoption of lean techniques helps in reviewing
and ensuring that all the methods adopted by institution is able to enhance vision, goals and meet
essential requirements. It requires participation from providers, which are present in the
institution, in the form of professors and teachers, so as to analyse functional aspects of
institution. Similarly, cultivating new culture and successfully establishing the same can help in
encouraging and receiving full support. Problem based techniques are also utilised by higher
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education institutions, which helps in ensuring that tools and techniques used as overarching
principles are able to bring overall improvements in quality and efficiency of set up.
According to Ståhl and et.al., (2015) adaption of lean thinking in higher education helps in
improving effectiveness and efficiency of operations. Since this concept have focus on
continuous improvement it helps in encouraging all level of employees, at different
organizational levels, to understand point of view of service users. In a higher education set up,
there are diverse stakeholders who are interested in initiating success of college, universities and
institutions. It also helps in measuring progress of success which thereby heightened the level of
expectations of service users as well. Meeting the requirements of people with decreased cost
helps in developing measurable impact on ultimate aspects of educational institutions. Various
institutional resources can be in the form of tools to fulfil educational requirements,
technological aspects, outreached mission as well as scholarships. Improvements in different
departments throughout the institution can have long term and impactful elements of strategic
planning.
2.6 HEIs implementing Lean Thinking
According to Implementation of lean thinking in higher educational institutions (HEIS).
(2017) adoption of lean thinking in Higher Educational Institutions helps in enhancing overall
deliverables. Lean thinking can be adopted in various administrative processes of HEIs, such as,
HR, admissions, registrations and procurement. It can also be implemented on academic
processes, such as, improvement indegree programs, handling of assignments, course design and
teaching, feedback of students and increased number of cases. In order to deliver to the
maximum to ultimate service users, there is requirement of continuous improvement in teams of
faculty, alumni, administrators, students, staff and bringing improvement in various courses as
well. Hence, it can be stated that, lean management helps in taking into account the unique
governance structure of higher education institutions. However, in contrast to this, as per the
views of Saleeshya, Austin and Vamsi, (2013) there are various benefits that are attached to
adoption of lean principles in higher education. It helps in reducing lead time, lower down the
cost, increase in throughput, increased in student satisfaction score, etc. Analysing the reports of
lean in higher education helps in indicating that its application has effectively being initiated in
the environment. It also helps in presentation of wide empirical results. It also helps in preparing
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an assessment that whether there is a requirement of bringing any type of change in adoption or
not.
According to Rahman, Sharif and Esa, (2013) lean management in higher education focus
upon improving the process of analysing the view point of users by identifying, reducing and
eventually eliminating anything that do not add any type of value to the institution. It also has
adequate look at waste and ensure that continuous improvement in functions are initiated so as to
reach to maximum level of benefits. It will also help in enhancing overall profitability aspects of
the set up as well.
2.7 The implementation of Lean Thinking in Academic Programme in HEIs
According to Robinson and et.al., (2012) implementation of lean thinking in Academic
programme sin Higher Education Institutions. Bringing changes in curriculum in such a manner
that service can receive maximum amount of benefits out of it. Demonstrating resources to
students for their mental and intellectual development can ensure that the result graded out of it
will be effective. Continuous improvement in the resources can help in enhancing quality
education at affordable prices to the students. These factors are utmost important for students as
well as their families. It also helps in fulfilling overall necessities of improvement required in
internal work processes. Lean service concept has also proved to be quite fruitful in restructuring
organization and efficiently managing the resources in such a manner that maximum benefits can
ultimately be generated out of it. HEI plays a substantial role in development of academic
aspects of students. However, in contrast to this, as per the views of Doğan and Unutulmaz,
(2016) lean management improvement principles can be applied to educational institutes, where,
its adaptation in academic programme can help in generating maximum results for students as
well as for educational set up as well. It generally results in increased performance and
effectiveness of delivery. Other benefits of its adoption are, overall cost saving of both institution
as well as student, increased satisfaction of service users and increased quality of services.
Signifying the importance, it can be stated that institution must opt for lean management
functions in academic functions, so as to generate maximum output in academic educational
aspects as well.
2.8 Research Gap
There are various research gaps that has been experienced by the researcher while
conducting this investigation on lean thinking. These gaps are discussed as follows:
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 Availability of secondary data: One of the important aspect of any research is to collect
secondary data. It helps in developing knowledge base. However, there are certain websites
which do not provide open access to the content. It restricted the knowledge regarding lean
thinking which may ultimately have affected overall conclusion and recommendations
aspects as well (Saleeshya, Austin and Vamsi, 2013).
 Prolonged process: Conducting research is a prolonged process. Hence, it became difficult to
collect all type of data from all the sources. Some important information may be missed
while collecting information due to lack of availability of time. Hence, researcher may not be
able to gather adequate information about it. Technical issues: While collecting secondary data from various sources, certain technical
issue was also faced by the researcher which has affected overall output of the research as
well.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bakri, A. H. and et.al., 2012. Boosting lean production via TPM. Procedia-Social and
Behavioral Sciences. 65. pp.485-491.
Burgess, N. and Radnor, Z., 2013. Evaluating Lean in healthcare. International journal of health
care quality assurance. 26(3). pp.220-235.
Collar, R. M. and et.al., 2012. Lean management in academic surgery. Journal of the American
College of Surgeons. 214(6). pp.928-936.
Doğan, N. Ö. and Unutulmaz, O., 2016. Lean production in healthcare: a simulation-based value
stream mapping in the physical therapy and rehabilitation department of a public
hospital. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. 27(1-2). pp.64-80.
Jasti, N. V. K. and Kodali, R., 2015. Lean production: literature review and trends. International
Journal of Production Research. 53(3). pp.867-885.
Lyons, A. C. and et.al., 2013. Developing an understanding of lean thinking in process
industries. Production Planning & Control. 24(6). pp.475-494.
Nordin, N. and et.al., 2012. A framework for organisational change management in lean
manufacturing implementation. International Journal of Services and Operations
Management. 12(1). pp.101-117.
Rahman, N. A. A., Sharif, S. M. and Esa, M .M., 2013. Lean manufacturing case study with
Kanban system implementation. Procedia Economics and Finance. 7. pp.174-180.
Robinson, S. and et.al., 2012. SimLean: Utilising simulation in the implementation of lean in
healthcare. European Journal of Operational Research. 219(1). pp.188-197.
Saleeshya, P. G., Austin, D. and Vamsi, N., 2013. A model to assess the lean capabilities of
automotive industries. International Journal of Productivity and Quality
Management. 11(2). pp.195-211.
Santos, J., Wysk, R. A. and Torres, J. M., 2014. Improving production with lean thinking. John
Wiley & Sons.
Ståhl, A. C. F. and et.al., 2015. Lean production tools and decision latitude enable conditions for
innovative learning in organizations: A multilevel analysis. Applied ergonomics. 47.
pp.285-291.
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Stone, K. B., 2012. Four decades of lean: a systematic literature review. International Journal of
Lean Six Sigma. 3(2). pp.112-132.
Online
Implementation of lean thinking in higher educational institutions (HEIS). 2017. [Online].
Available through <
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315352203_IMPLEMENTATION_OF_LEAN
_THINKING_IN_HIGHER_EDUCATIONAL_INSTITUTIONS_HEIS >
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