University Process Innovation
The Division of IT offers university process innovation services as a strategic effort under the VP/CIO. The efforts focus on the strategic business processes of the university and how they relate to the underpinning information technology. Discovering, evaluating, and improving processes and practices before technology decisions are made results in improved value delivery and a lower cost of implementation.
We offer consultation and facilitation services for academic and administrative units throughout the University of Maryland. Services include:
- Identifying a project scope and timeline
- Assessing and documenting current processes
- Analyzing processes to identify potential areas for improvement
- Workshop planning and facilitation
- Concept and data modeling
- Data analysis and needs assessment
- Change management
- Process improvement education
I began working with DIT's university process innovation team shortly after I arrived on campus. As a new AVP it was important to me to understand the current processes so that I could have a good idea of what needed to be improved. We have worked on two projects so far, and we have another one that we are just beginning. I have found this team to be very professional and detail oriented, and the work product has been a great value in helping me to make good strategic changes on our UHR process.
Publications and Project Documentation
Process Information
Below is a sampling of documents to help you understand the processes and models we use in our process assessment work. We regularly create new documentation and also offer customized consultation by request. Feel free to contact us with questions or for help.
- UPI Framework (PDF) - An overview of the framework we apply to most process assessments
- Process Model Templates (PDF) - Standardized templates for consolidating and displaying various views of process modeling
- 10 Common Process Improvement Mistakes and How to Avoid Them - Article authored by Joseph Drasin for EDUCAUSE Review about tips and lessons learned in process innovation
- How to Synthesize Interviews (PDF) - Tips on making the most of the data you collect during process assessment interviews
- Facilitation Technique – Matrix Workshop Session (PDF) - Steps to facilitate a workshop using one of our preferred methods
- Process Assessment Model (PDF) - Model and template for documenting details and issues based on 6 process enablers
- Interview Guide (PDF) - Learn best practices in interviewing for process assessments.
Presentations
We have spoken and given presentations and various conferences on different process improvement topics. While there is much more to these presentations when they are delivered, the slides can give you an idea of some of the topics we speak on.
- Holistic Process Design (PDF)
- The 4 Hour Day (PDF)
- Breaking the Stagnation Standoff (PDF)
- Process Improvement and Storytelling (PDF)
- Process Assessment Techniques and Methods (PDF)
- Process Improvement in Higher Ed Poster (.jpg)
Case Studies
These case studies summarize some of our projects and are used to highlight a project’s success or to bring attention to a particular challenge or difficulty in a project. These case studies were done after the project’s completion and were not created as part of the project documentation or recommendations. The projects and circumstances are real; however, some specifics of the systems and users have been generalized for publication.
- Billing and Accounts Receivable Case Study (PDF)
- Hiring Case Study (PDF)
- Gifting Case Study (PDF)
Project Assessment Summaries
Process assessments are one-page summaries of the overall process that also consider the factors and the goals and constraints of the business process. These factors that dictate a process are known as enablers, and processes are constituted by six of them: Process Design, IT Systems, Motivation and Measurement, Human Resources and Organization, Policies and Rules, and Facilities. The examples below show how a single model, the process assessment, holds a majority of the information required to understand a process and is a great tool to show and organize collected data.
- University Hiring Process (PDF)
- University Gifting Process (PDF)
- Procure to Pay Process (PDF)
- Change Major Process (PDF)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.