Book: Lean Higher Education

New publication details how to implement lean processes in universities.

Published: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 16:43

(Productivity Press: New York) -- In an environment of diminishing resources, growing enrollment, and increasing expectations of accountability, Bill Balzer’s Lean Higher Education: Increasing the Value and Performance of University Processes (Productivity Press, 2010) provides the understanding and the tools required to return education to the consumers it was designed to serve—the students. It supplies a unifying framework for implementing and sustaining a transformation for lean higher education (LHE) at any institution, regardless of size or mission. 

The straightforward language, relevant examples, and step-by-step guidelines for introducing lean interventions in this authoritative resource explain how to involve stakeholders in the delivery of quality every step of the way. The author details a flexible series of steps to help ensure stakeholders understand all critical work processes. He presents a wealth of empirical evidence that highlights successful applications of lean concepts at major universities, and provides proven methods for uncovering and eliminating activities that overburden staff yet contribute little or no added-value to stakeholders. 

Complete with standardized methods for correctly diagnosing workplace problems and implementing appropriate solutions, this valuable reference arms readers with the understanding and the tools to effectively balance the needs of all stakeholders. By implementing the lean practices covered in these pages schools will be better positioned to provide higher quality education, at reduced costs, with efficient processes that instill pride, maximize value, and respect the long-term interests of students, faculty, and staff.

Balzer is a professor of industrial-organizational psychology at Bowling Green State University and dean at the BGSU Firelands College. For the past five years, Balzer has been involved in promoting and applying lean principles and practices in higher education. His research interests include the psychology of lean systems, performance appraisal, job attitudes, and applied decision making. Balzer has consulted with national organizations including Procter & Gamble, Owens-Illinois, and Pepsico Inc. in the areas of performance evaluation, job satisfaction, and strategic planning.

About The Author

Productivity Press

For more than 25 years, Productivity Press has developed the largest catalog available anywhere of publications and learning tools about lean methodology, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. It is currently the premier source of authoritative information on organizational transformation. Productivity Press is an imprint of CRC Press, a premier global publisher of science, technology, and medical resources. Its aim is to broaden thinking and advance understanding in the sciences, providing researchers, academics, professionals, and students with the tools they need to share ideas and realize their potential. CRC Press is a member of Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business.