All Change and Programme Management Office courses

An introduction to the use of the Lotus Blossom Ideas Generation Tool

A short how-to guide to creating and using SIPOC analysis in process improvement

“Values are the beliefs that are important to us about the way we interact with each other, how we work together effectively towards common goals and the behaviours that we demonstrate and expect to see from our colleagues.” (Emma Rampton, Registrary)

The ourcambridge Supporting our Staff team have developed this session, to provide a follow up to the very popular ‘What do you value in life?’ workshop. In the first session, participants identified their own personal values and considered what they might mean for how they lived their life and went about their work. In this follow up session, participants will reflect further on their personal values and participate in some exercises that will help them to identify further positive actions they can take to achieve closer alignment to their values in a supportive and motivating environment.

This short session will provide an understanding of the principles, tools and techniques involved in Process Analysis with a view to improving business process effectiveness and efficiency. Delegates will have the opportunity to practice using the techniques that they learn via exercises designed to be enjoyable and thought provoking.

The course refers to the methodology used in conjunction with Triaster process mapping software available to users across the University of Cambridge.

This short session will provide an understanding of the principles, tools and techniques involved in Process Analysis with a view to improving business process effectiveness and efficiency. Delegates will have the opportunity to practice using the techniques that they learn via exercises designed to be enjoyable and thought provoking.

Are you a young person just starting out at the university or someone who’s been in the world of work for years? Either way, an apprenticeship could be for you. Hear from an existing apprentice and a line manager about their experiences, and learn about the range of fully funded apprenticeships available that could help future-proof your career.

This session offers you an insight into the squiggly careers of some of your fellow professional service colleagues, and the bright sparks and black holes they have experienced along the way. ‘Bright sparks’ are the things that increase our energy and motivation and ‘black holes’ are the things that drain our positivity and drive.

There will also be an opportunity for you to identify the bright sparks and black holes in your own career and consider how these can help you to shape your next move in your squiggly career journey.

“A climate where people feel safe to contribute their ideas, thoughts and even challenges without fear of humiliation or recrimination.” Professor Amy Edmondson, Harvard Business School.

Levels of trust and psychological safety in a team can have a significant impact on performance. When it is present, motivation and innovation will increase. When we feel safe, we can communicate openly and transparently, and this allows us to learn and grow. A lack of trust results in mistakes being buried, and in difficulties with retention, stress and low morale.

This session will allow you to reflect on how a psychologically safe environment can be fostered and the role you play in this.

Three alternative dates – please only sign up to one as the content is identical.

A series of informal peer-to-peer discussion groups have been arranged for Departmental Administrators and managers with responsibility for discussing and agreeing working arrangements with individuals in teams over the weeks and months ahead. The sessions are to share plans, ideas, and feedback during the ongoing implementation of hybrid working as more staff return to the workplace.

Each small group session will be facilitated by a member of the ‘Cambridge Works – New Ways of Working Project Team’

A series of informal peer-to-peer discussion groups have been arranged for Departmental Administrators and equivalent roles to share plans, ideas, and feedback during the ongoing implementation of hybrid working as more staff return to the workplace. Each small group session will be facilitated by the Co-leads for the ‘Digital Workplace Programme'. Please note: these sessions will focus on technology in relation to hybrid working: software, hardware and digital skills.

A series of informal peer-to-peer discussion groups have been arranged for those across all staff groups who have responsibility for discussing and agreeing working arrangements with individuals in their teams over the weeks and months ahead. The sessions are to share plans, ideas, and feedback during the ongoing implementation of hybrid working as more staff return to the workplace.

Each small group session will be facilitated by a member of the ‘Cambridge Works – New Ways of Working Project Team’

A bite-sized video about developing challenge statements in the context of Lean and process improvement.

The Champions Christmas Social is just what it says – a chance for you to have an informal festive get together with your fellow champions. As in 2020, we’ve made it an online event to enable the maximum number of people to attend. It is a great opportunity to enjoy some Christmas cheer and get to know each other better.

Join our Vice-Chancellor, Deborah Prentice, to reflect on what the conference has achieved and how we can continue to build our professional services community in the year ahead.

The closing speech will be followed by tea, coffee and pastries and the chance to chat to professional services colleagues in an informal setting.

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common passion, set of problems, or interest in a topic and who come together to fulfil both individual and group goals. 

CoPs bring colleagues together in order to:

• Create support networks

• Learn and grow their skills

• Share knowledge and join up related work

• Share common approaches

• Collaborate and innovate, and create better practices for everyone.

Come along to this session to find out more about how CoPs are being established and embedded at Cambridge, and the ways in which they could help you and those who you manage. There will be the opportunity to share ideas and concerns you have about the CoPs initiative and learn more about this exciting new area of development in the University.

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common passion, set of problems, or interest in a topic and who come together to fulfil both individual and group goals. 

CoPs bring colleagues together in order to:

• Create support networks

• Learn and grow their skills

• Share knowledge and join up related work

• Share common approaches

• Collaborate and innovate, and create better practices for everyone.

Come along to this session to find out more about how CoPs are being established and embedded at Cambridge, and the ways in which they could help you and those who you work with to achieve your objectives. There will be the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas for potential new CoPs and learn more about this exciting new area of development in the University.

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common passion, set of problems, or interest in a topic and who come together to fulfil both individual and group goals to:

• Create support networks
• Learn and grow their skills
• Share knowledge and join up related work
• Share common approaches
• Collaborate, innovate, and create better practices for everyone.

Come along to this session if you would like to find out more or be involved in the exciting development of a potential new CoP for student communications. A lot of interest has been expressed about forming a CoP in this area. There will be the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and learn more about how this could grow into a successfully functioning community.

We are delighted to welcome Dave Bishton, Head of Business Change (& Service Improvement) at the University of Warwick who will run a session to discuss how understanding service demand and matching to the capacity of University services can help us deliver effective, Lean services.

Join Dr Claire Michel, Education Projects Manager at the School of Biological Sciences as she talks about the reality of undertaking continuous improvement in the workplace with the SBS Undergraduate Education Support team.

Claire will talk about “Reimagining Undergraduate Education Support”, a project she has led in SBS for over two years and in which CI has been used to improve aspects such as;

This is a great opportunity to hear from someone outside of the CI team who has been able to put the theory into practice and will be able to talk about the ups and downs of a long-term project to embed continuous improvement in the workplace.

Find out more about how the Estates Division is working to support you to create flexible, agile spaces that promote connection, productivity and collaboration in our working environments.

Building on the great work of the Data Reporting and Insights CoP, this session will provide the opportunity to consider how we develop the existing Community of Practice to increase its impact and reach in line with other CoPs and the future data landscape at Cambridge.

In this session there will be the opportunity to:

• Discuss what the CoP could look like (objectives, events, target members etc.)
• Explore Core Team roles and the validation process
• Ask questions
• Share ideas

Please come along to this session if you would like to find out more and play a role in validating, developing and growing the CoP.

This is one session in a series of structured workshops to help develop our future People Strategy

Discussion Topic: Creating development plans to stretch and inspire.

This series of informal drop in sessions is designed to provide both new and more experienced leaders and managers, across all staff groups, with a safe space to share practice and discuss some of the challenges that can arise when supporting others to develop and strengthen their performance. Each session will start with Q&A with a panel of experienced managers drawn from across the University. This will be followed by questions from the audience and small group discussion in break-out rooms (depending on audience size/timings). The format is designed to facilitate peer support and learning. Following the session, recommendations for training and other resources will be shared.

“It’s lovely to convene a group of people interested in leadership and developing their skills in this area.”  (feedback from previous panel discussion participant)

Panellists

• Tori Helmer, Project Delivery team, Student Services

• Liz Simmonds, Head of Research Culture, Human Resources Division

• Susie Chan, Deputy Head, Postdoc Academy

• Kirstie Buckridge, Organisational Development Consultant, Human Resources Division

Have you heard of the term ‘interruption science’? In this session Gloria Mark, Chancellor’s Professor of Informatics at the University of California (Irvine), will talk to us about the effects of disruptions in the world of work. What impact do the many interruptions we face on a daily basis (such as email notifications) really have on us and our productivity. During the session Gloria will also explore technology design and our attention spans, and a mindful approach to technology.

About the Trainer

Gloria Mark is Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. She received her PhD from Columbia University in psychology. She has been a visiting senior researcher at Microsoft Research since 2012. Her primary research interest is in understanding the impact of digital media on people's lives and she is best known for her work in studying people's multitasking, mood and behaviour while using digital media in real world environments. She has published over 150 papers in the top journals and conferences in the fields of human-computer interactions (HCI) and Computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and is author of the book Multitasking in the Digital Age.

These events are sponsored by HR, ourcambridge and UIS as part of the Digital Workplace and Cambridge Works Programmes.

How have your work habits changed since lockdown? In this session, we will explore how to ensure a healthy balance of work/life habits, especially at a time when we are spending more time online than ever before. We will discuss some practical tips and strategies about how to control digital burnout, and how to manage your time and energy while working remotely.

Questions to think about before this session:

• What do you find are the best parts of working remotely?
• What do you find are the most challenging aspects of working remotely?

These events are sponsored by ourcambridge and UIS as part of the Digital Workplace Programme.