woman smiling and answering questions during a workshop

Facilitation and Training

Process Improvement Training

The following courses are designed to empower a culture of continuous improvement.

  • Lean Six Sigma White Belt: a self-paced course delivered via LMS
  • The White Belt course is intended to introduce basic terminology and concepts in Lean and Six Sigma. The Participants will learn how to identify process issues and eliminate waste. This training is available to all UC Davis students, faculty, and staff who wish to enable the improvement of personal and team productivity.  There is an accompanying workbook (also accessible directly thru the course launch in LMS.) It includes an introduction to Change Management methodology and is a fun interactive course you can take at your own pace! White Belt training also serves to prepare learners for Yellow Belt, a day-long in-person course where you apply Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques in a fun and energetic simulation.

    Register

  • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training
  • Upon completion of this course, participants will be Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt practitioners

    Topics Covered:

    • Understand the language and verbiage of process improvement and Lean Six Sigma.
    • Obtain a working knowledge of the tools of process improvement/Lean Six Sigma and how to apply them specifically in a higher education setting.
    • Gain the ability to identify “non-value added” activity.
    • Learn how to measure and analyze data from core processes in order to identify areas of improvement.
    • Recognize the value of integrating the “voice of the customer” into process improvement projects.

    Process Improvement Tools

    • DMAIC model
    • Value Stream Mapping
    • Lean 5s
    • Data Analysis and Sigma

    Training Logistics - Open Enrollment

    8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
    Located on the Davis campus
    Register

  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training
  • Green Belt update 11/2023 : Enroll now for the Spring 2024 Lean Six Sigma Green Belt course.
    Enrollment is now open for the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt course offered by UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education.
    The virtual course runs Friday, March 22, 2024, through June 14, 2024, meeting alternate Friday mornings from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Participants should be prepared to bring a process improvement project to actively work on during the course. 

    Learn more about the program or apply below. 

    Upon completion of this course, participants will earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Badge. Each participant will complete a project resulting in hard and/or soft savings for UC Davis.

    A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt will be able to:
    > Serve as practitioners of Lean methodology.
    > Select the right projects.
    > Define the problem that needs to be solved.
    > Measure the current problem and baseline the process.
    > Analyze the process and identify the cause of the problem.
    > Improve the process by implementing and verifying the best solution.
    > Control the new process by maintaining the solution.

    Topics covered:
    > Define a Six Sigma Project: Learn how to select the right project and define the problem that needs to be solved; build the business case and develop the project charter.
    > Understand the Customer: Engage in activities to define the customer's value chain; identify Critical to Quality (CTQ) process activities and define key performance indicators.
    > Quality Tools: Utilize quality tools such as check sheets, Pareto charts, scatter plots, and histograms to perform data analysis and assess measurement system capabilities.
    > Sustain the Change: Integrate project control plans and organizational change management to support the adoption of solutions. 

    Process Improvement Tools
    > DMAIC Model
    > Design of Experiments
    > Lean Metrics
    > Process Statistical Analysis
    > Organizational Change Management

    Course Fees: $2495 (discount available to UC Davis employees)

    Enroll 

     

  • Introduction to Root Cause Analysis (RCA): a self-paced course delivered via LMS
  • This course is designed to train individuals how to effectively use the root cause analysis problem-solving method to eliminate chronic problems forever by utilizing some of the Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques.

    Register

  • DMAIC For Practitioners: a self-paced course delivered via LMS
  • The self-guided DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) for Practitioners course is designed to train Lean Six Sigma practitioners how to more effectively manage the DMAIC process through practice with a standardized DMAIC Excel workbook tool. DMAIC practitioners will travel the DMAIC Roadmap, learn from real-world examples, and gain a further understanding of how Change Management principles are aligned with the DMAIC process. If you've got an interest in hands-on process improvement, this course is for you!

    Register

  • Customized Process Improvement Training
  • If you are interested in providing a private training for your team or department, OBT will partner in the development and delivery of a training that meets your objectives.

    By request only, please email Erica Aichwalder


Change Management Training

In an effort to grow change management competency across the organization, UC Davis offers the following courses. Contact Organizational Excellence to learn more about custom Change Management training opportunities. 

  • Change Management Fundamentals
  • An interactive session that explores the fundamental principles and practices of change management. Based upon proven, research-based approaches from Prosci®, the global leader in change management practice and research, participants will learn practical tips and tools for managing “the people side of change.”

    Duration: 4 hours

    What’s in it for you?

    > Define change management
    > Identify how to communicate the value of change management to your peers and leaders
    > Apply key change management tenets to a change effort
    > Learn the key questions to ask in order to successfully address the “people side” of change

    Before you Sign up

    1. Be prepared to attend the full session as scheduled
    2. Consider how you will bring lessons learned back to your team or department

    Register
  • Change Management for Managers and Supervisors
  • Managers play a critical role during times of change: research shows that employees look to managers and supervisors first to understand how changes will personally impact them. However, managers often underestimate their role in change or are unsure how to fulfill it. This highly interactive program builds change competency in people managers by providing a proven framework and practical tools for being an effective change leader. Managers and supervisors will learn how to improve change readiness by proactively addressing common individual and organizational barriers and applying proven building blocks from Prosci® during a change effort.

    Duration: 4 hours 

    What's in it for you?

    > Increase change readiness by applying research-based change management methods and tools
    > Define the manager/supervisor roles in change success
    > Identify how to address common change barriers among individuals or teams
    > Enhance your effectiveness as a change leader
    > Enhance your ability to manage change resistance

    Before you Sign Up

    1. Be prepared to attend the full session as scheduled


    Register | UC Davis Campus / Register | UC Davis Health Campus
  • Prosci Risk Assessment Tool: a self-paced course delivered via LMS
  • This course provides an overview of the Prosci Risk Assessment, a key tool in the Change Management toolkit, and helps the learners to identify issues that might impact change success and determine the level of change management resources needed to effectively support the change.

    Register
  • Prosci® Change Practitioners Workshop
  • The Prosci® Change Management Certification Program gives you the knowledge, skills, and tools to drive successful change initiatives. This three-day experiential learning program teaches you how to apply a holistic change management methodology and toolset, including the Prosci® ADKAR® Model, to a real-world project. You will leave with a change management plan that leverages research-based best practices to effectively manage change and enhance project results.

    Duration: 3 days

    What’s in it for you?

    > Apply the Prosci® ADKAR® Model to facilitate individual change
    > Apply the Prosci® Change Management Methodology to an existing change effort
    > Gain access to the Prosci® Change Management tools

    Before you Sign up

    Attendance is by invitation only.
    Subject to $400/person departmental recharge (a discount from Prosci's $4000 course cost)
    If you are interested in attending a future offering, please send your inquiry to Randa Wilbur with Organizational Excellence.
     


Facilitation

OBT aims to empower and actively support UC Davis staff and faculty to work toward optimizing all areas of their business through facilitated workshops.

  • Custom Workshop
  • Each organization comes with its own unique history, culture, challenges, and needs. Whether you are looking to introduce concepts, conduct a rapid process improvement event or enhance existing competencies, OBT can help you design and facilitate a custom workshop to fit your needs.

  • Liberating Structures
  • Did you know that you can greatly increase productivity and innovation in transforming your business processes? The challenge is how to liberate and learn from the collective intelligence.

    Collaborate with an OBT consultant on how to use Liberating Structures which are novel, practical and no-nonsense methods to help you improve and transform your business in a fun and innovative way.

    Learn more.

    By request only, please email Erica Aichwalder  


Virtual Learning Opportunities

Participate in webinars and virtual communities of practice to stay engaged and learn more about best practices in continuous improvement.

  • Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI)
  • NCCI is the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation: Higher Education's Network for Change Leadership. NCCI's vision is to position higher education institutions to be agile, lifelong learning models to transform lives and communities around the world.

    UC Davis is an institutional member of NCCI; this provides all UC Davis staff access to a robust library of resources, including live webinars. Please contact us if you have questions about accessing NCCI content. 
     

    Previously recorded sessions can be accessed by logging into NCCI Connect, a few of interest include:

    - NCCI Community Library: a repository or previously recorded webinars and workshops 

     - The Science of Stories: How They Alter Our Risk Perceptions More Powerfully than Info or Data Do (So Tell Good Ones)! (March 2020) Presented by Jonathan Klane, Director of Strategic Change in Safety Culture, UC Davis College of Engineering

    Creating Cross Functional Success - Breaking the Silos (November 2019). Presented by: Kathleen Scott and Rudy Sanchez, California State University Fresno

    Lean Leadership 101 (March 2018) Presented by: Eric Olson, PhD, California Polytechnic State University

     

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  • Additional Resources
  •  
    • Recommended web resources including; upcoming and/or previously recorded webinars, blogs, podcasts:

      - LeanHE (Lean in Higher Ed)the peer organization for higher education staff working to improve universities around the world using lean or similar process improvement methodologies. 

        Also of interest

      - Everything YOU Ever Wanted to Know about Process Improvement and Lean, but Were Afraid to Ask. Blog Post - Why Consider Lean Process Improvement or Process Management by Dan Feely, Founder and President of Transforming Solutions, Inc.

      - Transitioning to Remote Work by EDUCAUSE: lessons and tips for working virtually

      - Our Shared Challenges by Tim Creasey via LinkedIn: shared challenges in response to COVID-19

      - The Why, How and What of Continuous Improvement by Jeff Roussel: presentation on building a lean culture

      Recommended Change Management e-books:
      - Employee Survival Guide to Change by Jeffrey M. Hiatt
      Whether you are impacted by changes or leading others through change, the Employee’s Survival Guide to Change is an invaluable resource. For employees, this book will help you make sense of the changes happening in your organization.  Learn how you can be successful during periods of  change, and how you can be a proactive change agent among your peers. For leaders, use this book to create a change-ready culture in your organization.  By providing employees with an overview of the Prosci ADKAR Model, you will enable them to understand their own barriers for change and ask for the support they need to move successfully through the change process.

      - ADKAR by Jeffrey M. Hiatt

      How can you lead change successfully, both in your personal life and professional career? This book provides an in-depth explanation of the Prosci ADKAR® Model’s structured approach to change management.  Learn how to apply this model to support individuals through change, ultimately achieving organizational results

       
      Check back often as we continue to update resources...