Business Excellence Community of Practice

Newsletter & Updates

Project Management Practical Training (PMPT) Info Session

When: Thurs. July 29, 2021, 12:00-1:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Where: Zoom Meeting / Register in advance for this meeting

Are you interested in learning about project management? Perhaps you are looking for a starting point to gain the knowledge and skills needed to successfully initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close projects at UC San Diego?

Project Management Practical Training (PMPT), a blended learning project management program that incorporates online learning, live discussion sessions, social learning and mentorship, and project work to prepare the next wave of project managers at UC San Diego, is being offered by The UC San Diego Business Excellence Community of Practice (BECOP), UC San Diego Extension, and UC San Diego Campus and Health Human Resources.

Learn more about the program and the requirements to determine if this program is right for you! Review this infographic (PDF) and sign up on the PMPTP Interest Form to receive more information in the interim.

BECOP Book Club | Lean Higher Education: Increasing the Value and Performance of University Processes

When: Thurs. August 5, 2021, 12:00-1:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Where: Zoom / Click here to Register in advance

We will speak with Bill Balzer from Bowling Green State University. Dr. Balzer is the author of Lean Higher Education: Increasing the Value and Performance of University Processes. He is a professor of industrial-organizational psychology at Bowling Green University, where he also holds an appointment as Vice President Faculty Affairs and Strategic Initiatives.

BECOP Best Practice Rountable

When: Thurs. September 9, 2021, 12:00-1:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Where: Zoom / Register in advance for this meeting

Our BECOP community of Lean Six Sigma, Change Management and Project Management is rich with experience, lessons learned and tips & tricks! Let’s share this knowledge with each other during an informal roundtable based on your collective genius. Advance submissions (a sentence or two) submitted via registration question or email to becop@ucsd.edu are encouraged and we plan to include impromptu ideas as time allows.

Whether you plan to share, ask questions, just listen or simply make a few connections, we look forward to seeing you there!

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Scholarship Applications

The Green Belt Scholarship application is now live in IdeaWave! Please consider applying for this opportunity, as well as sharing the information around as you see fit.

Applications will be accepted through August 12th 2021. Scholarship candidates must obtain their supervisor’s endorsement and submit a project proposal. Awardees will be selected in late August at which point they may indicate a preference for the fall, winter or spring course sessions.

For more information about application requirements or selection criteria please visit the LSS Scholarship page. For questions about course curriculum, please see the Extension course page. You may also review the attached “Fictitious Example Project” (PDF), “Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF), or the application process map (created in Promapp) and view the recording of our recent LSS Scholarship Info Session (video below).

Having completed Yellow Belt level training is not a requirement, but it can provide a great start to a Continuous Improvement Journey. We look forward to reviewing your project submissions! You may also contact Antonio Nava directly at a1nava@ucsd.edu if you would like to discuss project ideas.

Communication and Collaboration Tools for Teams

In support of the Communication and Collaboration Tools for Teams sessions facilitated by Anne Curtis and Kenny Li, we invite you to participate in this IdeaWave campaign aimed at sharing digital platforms and approaches.

Out of chaos, we create order.
Out of disagreement, we create alignment.
Out of ambiguity, we create clarity.
But most of all, we create positive change for the organizations we serve.

Do you enjoy the following:

Leading a team to balance goals with constraints to achieve a valuable result?
Developing a shared understanding of what needs to be accomplished/ what the requirements are?
Using data to effectively communicate the pros and cons of a decision?Leading a team toward the best possible solution to the problem the team has been tasked with solving?

If these activities pique your interest, go ahead and apply for the BSA4 position at IT Services.

IT Services is looking for a talented Business systems analyst who will be leading and facilitating business process analysis for multiple technical projects in support of various campus-wide IT initiatives. The Business Systems Analyst will work collaboratively on cross-functional teams to meet strategic objectives. This position will work on a selection of projects across the realms of various business systems.

The Enterprise Systems Renewal (ESR) program is a current UCSD initiative that will transform and streamline core business and administrative processes. It is the largest technology improvement program ever undertaken at UC San Diego. Enterprise Systems Renewal (ESR) program is a multi-year initiative that will reshape the way UC San Diego does business. With input from subject matter experts from central offices and academic departments across campus, the program's focus is optimization of core business and administrative practices as we deliver new systems that will effectively meet the needs of our growing university.

This position will contribute directly to the business systems analysis needs for the Enterprise Identity management project and other projects under the ESR program.

Already working at UC San Diego and not ready to leave your positions? If you have the listed skills and desire, we’re open to “borrowing” your time in exchange for backfill funds to your department for the duration of your participation. You’ll lend your expertise, contribute to a campus-wide system and get ramped up with standard templates and tools for process analysis. If you’d like to explore this option, please contact: Prachi Raheja <praheja@ucsd.edu>

We need you!
Volunteers are needed to share their Project Management experience

Are you employed by UC San Diego and work as a project manager, by career or in practice, who is willing to volunteer and share your knowledge? Whether you are a certified PMP or have a Lean Six Sigma Black or Green Belt, we are looking for Mentors and Facilitators for the 2nd cohort of Project Management Practical Training (PMPT).

Mentor
The PMPT makes a pool of mentors available to the cohort during their coursework. Participants submit a request for mentor assistance which is then offered to the mentor pool. One Mentor will claim each ask and reach out to the participant to discuss and answer their question and provide insights based on their own project management experience! The optional time commitment during the August to November course is flexible and minimal, and there is no required obligation to claim a request.

Facilitator
The PMPT includes four zoom sessions. Three of the sessions will be led by a unique two-person facilitator team to guide the core discussion based on the scheduled topics and provided materials. Facilitators share topic-related personal experiences to engage the cohort and present insight to actual UC San Diego scenarios. The total time commitment is approximately 4-5 hours (1-2 hours of preparation, a brief tech check and the 2-hour session). Facilitators are selected based on topic experience match and calendar availability. Current needs are for the August 18, 2-4pm session covering PM Intro/Overview and the October 20, 2-4pm session covering Resource-loaded Schedule, Budget (very brief), Risk Register & Communication Plan.

If you are interested in being a PMPT Mentor or Facilitator, please contact Loralyn Cross, lkcross@health.ucsd.edu, by July 28th, or shortly thereafter.

BECOP Partner Spotlight:

Antonio Nava

Antonio “Tony” Nava, Senior Strategic Programs Analyst for Operational Strategic Initiatives (OSI) and BECOP partner was recently named as a 2020-21 Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year. The OSI team is a strong supporter and partner of BECOP, and Tony has been a key part of that partnership. His dedication to infusing continuous improvement with enthusiasm and humor is contagious. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight just some of his significant contributions:

The impact of LSS at UCSD: https://ci.ucsd.edu/impact/index.html
Tony recently hosted a (Free) White Belt Training Session (with over 2,500 views and counting!!!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUweDtn5RdQ
Tony assisted with the Great LSS Race competition at this year’s Process Palooza: https://processpalooza.ucsd.edu/
Tony leads the LSS Scholarship program – see “Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Scholarship Applications” and here: https://osi.ucsd.edu/services/six-sigma/scholarship.html

Thank you Tony and OSI for your continued support and partnership!

BECOP Recognition. Would you like to recognize someone in our Community of Practice? Email becop@ucsd.edu to nominate a colleague for their outstanding work!

Volunteers. It takes volunteers to make our Community of Practice continue to evolve and grow. If you're interested in volunteering and helping out to keep BECOP a robust and thriving place to network and learn, please email becop@ucsd.edu.

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