Increase Productivity with Workflow Process Automation
As a higher education institution, you’re always looking for ways to streamline processes and save time. From data management to network security and access, countless tech-related systems play an important role in ensuring students and staff are connected with secure, integrated systems.
What is Workflow Process Automation in Higher Education?
Workflow Process Automation (WPA) in higher education refers to the use of technology and software tools to streamline and automate various administrative and academic processes within educational institutions. It aims to improve efficiency, reduce manual efforts, and enhance productivity by automating repetitive tasks and optimizing workflow management.
Process Improvement and Higher Education
You may be pinched for time and money—forced to do more with fewer resources. As competition among higher education institutions grows, you may be on the hunt for meaningful ways to improve processes. Even if you can identify ways to change, you may have to go through the slow process of committee decisions before you can take action.
Fortunately, becoming a process expert can help you increase efficiency and improve all aspects of your workflows. Check out our guide to learn more about how workflow process automation and other training programs can help you become a process expert.
How to Become a Process Expert
When you become a process expert, your department will become more agile, ready to pivot and adapt to any unforeseen changes that arise. Follow these five steps to become a process expert at your higher education institution.
1. Minimize Steps
Every process expert knows that efficiency starts with minimizing any unnecessary steps. So how do you know if a step is unnecessary? If it doesn’t add value to the process, it’s probably something you can eliminate. Identify bottlenecks and non-value-adding steps to reduce waste and increase productivity.
2. Focus on Change Management
Becoming a process expert is about more than just the process. It’s also important to focus on change management, which pulls principles from psychology, engineering, and behavioral science to see how one small change can affect your entire institution.
When you understand change management, you’ll be able to better plan for, implement, and communicate changes within your organization. Everyone will know why the change needs to happen, who it will impact, and how it will be executed.
3. Automate Processes with Higher Education Workflow Software
Workflow automation is another key aspect of improving processes within your higher education institution. By investing in a workflow automation platform, you’ll boost your team’s capacity without having to bring on a new hire. Instead, you can solve problems with customized apps that are secure and easy to build (no coding required.)
Higher education workflow software allows you to automate campus-wide forms like purchase orders, payroll authorizations, change of major requests, and more. They’re scalable, have built-in form and workflow creators, and easily integrate with existing campus systems—allowing you to focus on other important IT responsibilities within your institution.
4. Improve Measurement Systems
All your systems revolve around data, which can vary depending on your processes and measurement systems. So, to make the most of your processes, it’s important to take a close look at your measurement systems. Are you interpreting the data correctly, using the right metrics? Are there any flaws in your data collection processes?
Examine your measurement systems and look for ways to reduce variation—because even the smallest variations can create big ripples in your processes.
5. Keep a Long-Term Perspective
It’s easy to get overwhelmed on your journey to becoming a process expert. With so many areas for improvement, how will you ever tackle them all? Streamlining processes won’t happen overnight, so it’s crucial to keep a long-term perspective as you work toward your goals.
Remember that the small changes you make will have a big impact on your productivity over time, and every step toward streamlining processes will help your institution become more agile and competitive.
Training Courses to Improve Processes
Today there are many resources available to higher education administrators looking to increase productivity and streamline processes. Here are three training courses to consider on your path to becoming a process expert.
1. Lean Six Sigma Training
The Lean Six Sigma Training is one of the most renowned programs for making any organization more productive. With the goal of reducing costs, boosting quality, and maximizing productivity, Lean Six Sigma has helped clients like BMW, Bosch, and Fender implement realistic processes that drive meaningful results.
Want to learn some of the founding principles of Lean Six Sigma? Join the University of California San Diego Process Palooza May 11-June 8 to learn from global experts. You’ll come away with strategies you can easily apply within your own higher education institution.
2. PMP Training
Also known as a project management professional certification, PMP training courses are an excellent way to enhance higher education administration skills. PMP courses will give you new insights on initiating, planning, and executing goals as they relate to your technology, controls systems, and data management.
Whether you’re seeking tips on managing your IT services or improving student connectivity, a PMP training course can help you do just that. There are many online options for PMP training, but it’s important to find a solution tailored to the unique needs of a higher education institution like yours.
3. Process Analysis Training
Are you having trouble adapting to the ever-changing landscape of higher education? If so, process analysis training is a great solution. Process analysis training courses will help you learn how to better standardize and implement processes that are built to scale and adapt to changing times.
By learning new, effective ways to analyze your processes, you’ll develop a better sense of where your institution needs to change or adjust existing systems. You’ll be equipped with effective tools for short- and long-range planning of your college’s technical infrastructure, helping students and faculty achieve their goals.
Become a Process Expert Today
If you’re ready to become a process expert and help your institution thrive, Kuali-Build can help. Our workflow process automation software will help your faculty reach goals more efficiently, support your existing infrastructure, and benefit your students. No coding experience? No problem. Our software is intuitive and easy to use—with no coding required. Learn more about how Kuali Build can help your higher education institution today.
