Lean Insights
More Process Palooza Fun
Alicia Webber (AdminIT) and Bernadette Hill (AdminIT) collaborated on
this break out session! Change is inevitable; this was an outstanding
presentation about how Change Management (ADKAR) and Process
Improvement (DMAIC) align:
- ADKAR - Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement
- DMAIC - Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control
Exploring how ADKAR aligns with DMAIC opened up new insights
for leveraging Change Management within process improvement.
Attendees left energized and ready to integrate both frameworks for
even more successful project outcomes.
Presented Bi-Monthly
by the
Lean Ambassadors
Bench (LAB)
Issue 003
OCTOBER 2024
Lean UX & Process Improvement
UC TECH: Collaboration for
Transformation
You’re Already Doing Change Management: How ADKAR is
Nested Within DMAIC
The Great Innovate Competition pits six teams (each comprised of six
competitors) against one another to improve real UC San Diego business
processes using Lean Six Sigma. This year the competition was over two days.
- Day 1 of the competition is all about process improvement.
- Day 2 is when each team presents their improvements to a panel of judges,
who then pick the winniners for each of the business process scenarios. - Winning teams get showcased and receive prizes later that day at The Great
Innovate Awards Ceremony.
UC Davis’s Peter Blando (IET) & Amber Sharpe (FOA) each competed in the Great
Innovate competition and won! Peter is officially a 2-time winner! Amber also
won the Best in Team award! Congratulations! The winning teams also had an
opportunity to present at the Post Palooza Webinar!
The Great Innovate Competition: UC Davis Winners
UC Davis at Process Palooza 2024
by Priya Venkatesan
UC Davis colleagues had the amazing opportunity to participate in Process Palooza, at UC San Diego. It was an
unforgettable experience for everyone involved. We fully immersed ourselves in the conference, engaging in team-
building activities, networking, and diving deep into the world of continuous improvement. It was a great chance to not
only learn and apply new skills but also bond as a team while having fun improving processes together. The collective
energy and shared commitment to growth made the event even more rewarding!
Amber Sharpe (FOA) & Peter
Blando (IET)
Alicia Webber (AdminIT) & Bernadette Hill (AdminIT)
The Lean Leap: A Fresh Perspective from a
First-time Event Explorer
Priya Venkatesan from UC Davis’s AdminIT and UC San Diego’s Ahren Crickard
collaborated to deliver an engaging breakout session that seamlessly blended
presentation and networking. This session aimed to foster an interactive
environment where participants could gain valuable insights while also
expanding their professional networks
The presentation component provided in-depth knowledge of Priya’ s Lean
Journey, her first time Process Palooza experience from 2023, and the sessions
to look out for. Meanwhile, the networking segment facilitated meaningful
connections among attendees, enabling the exchange of ideas and
experiences. This innovative approach ensured that participants not only left
with enhanced understanding but also with new professional relationships,
making the session both informative and impactful.
Priya Venkatesan (UC Davis’s AdminIT) ,
Ahren Crickard (UC San Deigo)
Wanna learn more about Lean? Come to the LAB!
Do you have questions about Process Improvement, Change
Management, or Lean Six Sigma (LSS)? Our experts are here to help! Join
our bi-monthly virtual office hours, which are open to anyone interested in
process improvement. These flexible, drop-in sessions are perfect for:
- Brainstorming new ideas
- Getting support with ongoing projects
- Asking questions about Lean tools like DMAIC
- Networking with like-minded professionals
Office Hours: Held twice a month—join anytime during the hour!
The Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI) focuses on leadership, change management, and Lean
methodologies in Higher Education. UC Davis holds an institutional membership, providing all UC Davis employees with
access to learning resources and networking opportunities throughout the year.
Register for an upcoming educational session:
- Thur. October 3, 10 a.m. PST, Power60: Change Management in Higher Education:
Escaping the “We’ve Always Done it this Way “Trap - Wed. November 13, 11 a.m. PST, Power60: Post-Crisis Leadership: Implications for
Pursuing Change and Innovation in Higher Education
Visit the Online Resource Library to find past Power60s and workshops.
These resources are FREE to UC Davis Staff!
To take advantage of these resources, create a profile on the NCCI website.
Be sure to search for and select “University of California Davis” in the Institution/Company Name field.
Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI)
We all encounter challenges in our work. How we engage with
those challenges can either foster successful problem solving
or leave us struggling. Let us take the implementation of Aggie
Enterprise, for example. Challenging for sure, but through
robust user testing, process feedback, surveys, and
discussions with the Oracle team, we continued forward very
successfully. Read more here...
Aggie Enterprise User Groups: Brainstorm, Listen, Improve
The LAB is thrilled to introduce the newest members of
the team! These talented individuals are ready to bring
their expertise in Lean Six Sigma to help drive process
improvements across UC Davis. This academic year,
we have five returning members and three new
members!
We want to thank all LAB Members for their continued dedication and expertise! Your ongoing efforts have made a
significant impact, and we’re grateful for all you do to drive process improvement and mentor others along the way!
Your passion for continuous improvement and fresh perspectives strengthens our Lean community. Say hello and
connect with our LAB members at our drop-in LAB virtual office hours. Together, we’ll continue to innovate and
make lasting improvements!
Welcome to Our 2024-2025 Lean Ambassadors Bench (LAB)
Join Our Lean Ambassador Bench (LAB) Virtual Office Hours!
Lean Insights Editors: Erica Aichwalder I Bernadette Hill I Priya Venkatesan
Submit your Lean Insights Ideas!
“It was a great intro training to process improvement and helped me to reframe how I view and approach process improvement in general.” - WB Participant
Congratulations to Last Quarter’s Lean Six Sigma Belt Recipients!
“The content is amazing, and the facilitators did a great job!” - YB Participant
“The Green Belt certification equipped me to drive process improvements...with valuable insights and enhanced problem-solving strategies.” - GB Participant
Congratulations to the 1st Green Belt Scholarship Recipients!
In an ongoing commitment to fostering a Culture of Continuous Improvement, we are pleased to announce that 16 individuals have been awarded scholarships for Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training. Over the next 14 weeks, these recipients will immerse themselves in Lean methodologies, applying their new skills to a UC Davis process improvement project aimed at achieving a minimum savings of $10,000 while boosting efficiency and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Investing in a Culture of Continuous Improvement by Erica Aichwalder
The process to apply for scholarships for the spring 2025 Green Belt class will open in November 2024. Learn more at the October 30 Scholarship Information session.
Register for LSS Belt Training today!
Click here for GB Scholarship Info!
https://adminit.ucdavis.edu/obt
Request our Services!