Consulting & Training

Design, improvement and control for competitive advantage

There are many different activities in organisations: manufacturing processes, service delivery processes, sales, nursing, administrative processes, et cetera. All such activities are routine functions, and therefore can be measured and improved. The current economy is dynamic. Structure changes, technological innovations, increased competition, price erosion, and higher consumer expectations enforce every organisation to continuously improve and innovate its processes.

Vision on consultancy
In the vision of IBIS UvA a healthy organisation has organised its three basic functions for process management:
- Process development and planning.
- Process control.
- Process improvement.

To perform, to respond effectively to developments in the market, and to control costs, an organisation must have an efficient and effective operation. The organisation’s competence in developing, controling and improving processes is an important factor in its success. Organisations should not rely on external consultants for this important function, but should build this competence themselves by training their staff as effective process improvement agents. IBIS UvA’s training programme is tailored to this pursuit.

Vision on teaching and coaching
IBIS UvA’s professional development programmes aim to teach skills (a way of working), rather than knowledge (theory and facts). Programmes are challenging and should be considered a serious step in career development. IBIS UvA strives to stimulate learning in the following ways.

• By having participants work on "open" problems and case studies during the training, and providing participants with feedback on how they do it.
• By providing feedback during project support and reviews. Especially this feedback helps participants master the theory on the level that they recognize when and how it can be used in real life.
• By providing roadmaps that give "guidance in the field". Roadmaps help project leaders ask the right questions, use appropriate tools and provide a checklist of pitfalls. Further, roadmaps help structure project documentation and thus facilitate project tracking and management. IBIS UvA offers roadmaps for DMAIC, IDOV (Design for Six Sigma), statistical tools, managing resistance, and implementation of change. Further, IBIS UvA has templates for project proposals, progress reports (following the 12 step DMAIC sequence), and project discharge.