New Investments Flow – Analysis and Approvals for Innovation

Challenge

In this case, challenge is the opportunity to improve the flow analysis for new investments, to achieve faster introductions of technologies, improve efficiency and cost reductions. Currently, the steps related of analysis and staff approval requires a lot of time, being a bottleneck in the whole process – causing employee stress, project schedule delays and benefits postponed.

Currently, the process takes between 5 to 8 months – analysis and decision-making. In this period, many conditions could change and benefits are lost. It represents 50 to 60% of total flow, even considered these investments development and installation.

Selection

Tool selected was Visualization, to show for all stakeholders what is the current analysis flow and the main relationship between steps. How important is the tasks, what is the earned value in each step and how we can reduce the flow and optimize the staff jobs – improving communication, avoiding reworks, losses and stress. In fact, is not clear for the team members how much time it takes and if all steps are really needed, because the flow was designed a long time ago.

The main goal using this tool is to develop a unique understanding of the flow and find the opportunities to improve efficiency, achieving a sense of agreement.

Application

First step of the process was to create a diagram flow with icons and geometric forms, connecting them with lines and arrows. To develop the diagram, I started from one important investment known by the all members of the team, making an easy example to catch evidences and inputs from involved persons in the process. It was performed individual interviews to catch all relevant information for each step of the process.

The next step of application, will be put together the team members related, as input (1st), step (2nd) and output/next step (3rd). This diagram will provide a common understanding of the flow and allow the team to analyze what is the wastes and opportunities in their jobs.

Insight

Until now, I understand how important is to set a tool to conduct the analysis and how much the team and myself had learned so far. We have made a common sense of the problem for all of us, and just with an individual analysis with each member of the team, we identify an opportunity of 30% reduction in the current lead time of the process flow – just through improving own wastes, in steps of our jobs. Will be easier to evaluate the wastes and opportunities when the team known the relationship between each step and who is the person directly involved, because of that I believe visualization was the right tool selected.

Approach

In continuous this initiative, as suggested from team members, we will use one additional tool – learning launch. After completed the visualization tool step – identifying wastes and opportunities – will be set another process flow and submitted for a practice test, with all ideas generated so far for validation.

Next time I will use visualization tool through a workshop to allow that information spread for the team directly in first contact with the main problem.


New Investments Flow – Analysis and Approvals for Innovation Challenge In this case , challenge is the opportunity to improve the flow analysis for new investments , to achieve faster introductions of technologies , improve efficiency and cost reductions . Currently , the steps related of analysis and staff approval requires a lot of time , being a bottleneck in the whole process – causing employee stress , project schedule delays and benefits postponed . Currently , the process takes between 5 to 8 months – analysis and decision - making . In this period , many conditions could change and benefits are lost . It represents 50 to 60 % of total flow , even considered these investments development and installation . Selection Tool selected was Visualization , to show for all stakeholders what is the current analysis flow and the main relationship between steps . How important is the tasks , what is the earned value in each step and how we can reduce the flow and optimize the staff jobs – improving communication , avoiding reworks , losses and stress . In fact , is not clear for the team members how much time it takes and if all steps are really needed , because the flow was designed a long time ago . The main goal using this tool is to develop a unique understanding of the flow and find the opportunities to improve efficiency , achieving a sense of agreement . Application First step of the process was to create a diagram flow with icons and geometric forms , connecting them with lines and arrows . To develop the diagram , I started from one important investment known by the all members of the team , making an easy example to catch evidences and inputs from involved persons in the process . It was performed individual interviews to catch all relevant information for each step of the process . The next step of application , will be put together the team members related , as input ( 1st ) , step ( 2nd ) and output / next step ( 3rd ) . This diagram will provide a common understanding of the flow and allow the team to analyze what is the wastes and opportunities in their jobs . Insight Until now , I understand how important is to set a tool to conduct the analysis and how much the team and myself had learned so far . We have made a common sense of the problem for all of us , and just with an individual analysis with each member of the team , we identify an opportunity of 30 % reduction in the current lead time of the process flow – just through improving own wastes , in steps of our jobs . Will be easier to evaluate the wastes and opportunities when the team known the relationship between each step and who is the person directly involved , because of that I believe visualization was the right tool selected . Approach In continuous this initiative , as suggested from team members , we will use one additional tool – learning launch . After completed the visualization tool step – identifying wastes and opportunities – will be set another process flow and submitted for a practice test , with all ideas generated so far for validation . Next time I will use visualization tool through a workshop to allow that information spread for the team directly in first contact with the main problem .