Simplification of Work Procedures

When organizations introduce technology, are resized, or develop their

markets and processes, very often the people move on but the work
processes remain the same. This course is a work process that helps
managers deal with the aftermath of change by realistically assessing
workloads and re-aligning work practices accordingly. Based on highly
successful work models, the course provides the opportunity for managers to
eliminate or modify how work gets done in their organization. By including
people from all levels of organizations and different backgrounds, the course
is also a vehicle for involvement, participation and cultural change, giving
everyone a chance to take responsibility for process streamlining and work
simplification-and breaking through the kind of ineffective and inefficient
‘organizational gridlock’ that often accompanies organization restructuring.

Key Topics

• The changing environment around organizations

• The demands of globalization and competition
• The process of work simplification
• The roles of managers and staff in simplification
• The identification of key business processes
• The implementation of simplification change
• Issues of quality control
• The changing situation with IT
• The challenges of distributed organizations

Audience

Executives, directors, middle managers, quality managers, and team leaders

involved in or affected by business process change. It is suitable for those
with experience of managing work simplification processes as well as new
practitioners. The seminar will be of benefit to all those who have
responsibility for the ‘output’ of others, this will include superintendents, and
senior managers.

Course Objectives

This programme is designed to provide delegates with a sound understanding

of the process of simplification as a means to bring about radical
transformation of the business processes and of the organization itself. The
programme will also cover the effects of modern communication technology
on organizations and on the changing demands on organizations and work
processes. Participants will return to work with an understanding of the value
of continual development of work processes, and in particular when and when
not to use the approaches described, and will be ready to apply the skills and
knowledge acquired.
It is delivered in an easy to absorb way and is highly practicable and
interactive. The participants and the organization will derive considerable
benefit from their attendance.

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The effects on management and the world of work of modern communication
technology such as the internet, intranets and modern desktop applications is
beyond question and the role that continual simplification of complex
processes can play in a modern organization is better understood in today’s
global market. Simplification and re-engineering in appropriate cases has
emerged in recent years as a leading management approach among
executives striving for significant business transformation and change to
achieve breakthrough improvements in performance.

By the end of the programme, participants should be able to:

• Develop a conceptual understanding of the fundamentals of business
simplification and its implications for contemporary business
• Identify opportunities and approaches for simplifying existing business processes
• Develop human resource management strategies to support
simplification efforts
• Develop an understanding of how to build effective strategic process
change initiatives and implementation plans
• Develop an understanding of approaches for managing the ongoing
business transformation process
• Develop an understanding of the importance of customer focus in
business and in particular the effects and value of modern
communication technology.
• Identify the appropriate approaches to use in order to achieve
simplification within their organization
• The value of each approach and when to use each

Course Outline

Module 1 The Concept of Work Simplification

• The need for and benefits of change
• The New World of Work
• What is Work Simplification in Practice?
• Overview of Simplification Processes
• Incremental and Frame-breaking improvements

Module 2 The Work Simplification Process

• Thinking in terms of process
• Role of management
• Creativity and its role within managing changes
• The enabling role of Information Technology

Module 3 Managing the Simplification approach

• From Manager to Process Owner
• The demise of the organizational chart
• Tools of making changes in organizations
• Addressing the underlying assumptions
• The impact on the formulation of Strategy

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Module 4 Implementation Simplification– Change Management
• The Simplification Team Approach
• Overcoming Resistance
• Communication and Re-Engineering
• Factors influencing Successful Implementation

Module 5 Information Technology and the effects on Managers

• Information as a common resource
• The changing Management role
• Benefits of information technology in the workplace
• Performance Improvement Framework

Module 6 Vision, Mission, and management of information

• Preparation of Vision, Mission statements and their benefits
• The organizations value
• Information as a resource
• Environmental factors

Module 7 The Application of the Tools and Techniques

• The Organization’s structure
• Empowerment tools and techniques
• Management of quantitative and qualitative information
• Maintaining the organizations culture and values

Module 8 Value for Money and Quality

• Cost of quality
• Efficiency and/or Effectiveness
• Reconciling quality with cost containment
• Common Quality Gaps
• The contribution of each to the organization