All Change and Programme Management Office courses

An introduction to the 8 Wastes (Lean methodology), and how to spot hidden waste in your own processes.

https://youtu.be/Jp5gIwr9xAU

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 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’

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.

We are pleased to welcome Laura Roper and Susanne Clarke from Bournemouth University who will be visiting to deliver our next continuous improvement seminar

Discover the transformative power of the KIND AP-3 Framework in our upcoming fun, and engaging workshop! Immerse yourself in an interactive session where we explore and discuss how this innovative framework seamlessly integrates traditional lean methodologies with appreciative inquiry and positive organisational scholarship.

Appreciative Inquiry and Positive Organisational Scholarship bring numerous benefits to organisations. Appreciative Inquiry fosters a positive workplace culture by focusing on strengths, fostering collaboration, and inspiring innovation. It encourages a shift from problem-solving to appreciating and amplifying what is already working well. On the other hand, Positive Organisational Scholarship emphasises the study of positive aspects within an organisation, promoting resilience, well-being, and exceptional performance. Together, Appreciative Inquiry and Positive Organisational Scholarship contribute to increased employee engagement, improved organisational morale, and enhanced problem-solving capacities, ultimately fostering a more vibrant and thriving work environment that drives sustainable success.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to see Laura and Susanne show how we can extend Lean principles to cater specifically to Higher Education whilst you enhance your professional skills and broaden your perspective.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

A series of 30 minute drop-in sessions to talk with one of the Continuous Improvement team. We offer expert, impartial advice relating all things process improvement and want to support our colleagues on their own continuous improvement journeys.

Please note, these sessions are informal, 1-2-1 meetings where colleagues can ask for advice and guidance from the team. These are not workshops or taught sessions.

The team will be available 9-10 and 4-5 every Tuesday and Friday - each hour can be split into two sessions of 30 minutes depending on demand.

Do you have an idea for a new Community of Practice? Or perhaps you have an existing group that you think might be suitable to become a Community of Practice. If, after looking at the guidance on the CoPs Sharepoint Hub, you would like to talk through your plans with a member of the CoP Support Group (CSG), then these 30min drop in sessions are for you!

Please note, these sessions are informal, 1-2-1 meetings where colleagues can ask for advice and guidance from the Communities of Practice support team. If there is more than of you working on an idea together, we suggest one of you book on and invites the other(s) CoP initiator(s)/leader(s). We will assume you have already familiarised yourself with the information and guidance on the Sharepoint, and have already begun to develop your ideas for a CoP.

A series of 30 minute drop-in sessions to talk with one of the Simplifying our Processes team. We offer expert, impartial advice relating all things process improvement and want to support our colleagues on their own continuous improvement journeys.

Please note, these sessions are informal, 1-2-1 meetings where colleagues can ask for advice and guidance from the Simplifying our Processes team. These are not workshops or taught sessions.

The Simplifying our Processes team will be available 9-10 and 4-5 every Tuesday and Friday - each hour can be split into two sessions of 30 minutes depending on demand.

A series of 30 minute drop-in sessions to talk with one of the Simplifying our Processes team. We offer expert, impartial advice relating all things process improvement and want to support our colleagues on their own continuous improvement journeys.

Please note, these sessions are informal, 1-2-1 meetings where colleagues can ask for advice and guidance from the Simplifying our Processes team. These are not workshops or taught sessions.

The Simplifying our Processes team will be available 9-10 and 4-5 every Tuesday and Friday - each hour can be split into two sessions of 30 minutes depending on demand.

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 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 if you would like to find out more, or be involved in the exciting development of a potential new EA/PA CoP. 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 CoP.

This focus group provides an opportunity for you to support the ourcambridge team and contribute to the delivery of more effective and efficient meetings across the University.

Are you fed up with ineffective meetings? Or, are you already approaching meetings in an innovative way? The ourcambridge team would love your input, which will help to shape the guidance and toolkit we are producing.

The focus group will be formed of 6 colleagues using Microsoft Teams to discuss and answer a short series of questions centred around effective meetings and the guidance produced.

5S is defined as a methodology that results in a workplace that is clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized to help reduce waste and optimize productivity. It's designed to help build a quality work environment, both physically and mentally.

This short virtual session looks at the Lean 5S tool as a way of organising workspace and how this can help wellbeing. It also draws comparisons with the Marie Kondo tidying method.

In preparation for the session, please take a photograph of something that makes you happy.

You will receive joining instructions a few days before the session with instructions on where to upload your photographs.

ourcambridge is leading a project focused on developing resources and tools to help and support workload management for professional services staff at the University.

This focus group will discuss the types of tools and resources that individuals, managers, and teams may find most useful. The focus group will be formed of 6 colleagues using Microsoft Teams.

The session will be led by Jenny Rampling, Senior Programme Co-ordinator

This talk will present an evidence-based take on time management: one that’s grounded in the latest research in cognitive science, psychology, and chronobiology. We’ll look at how people can gain control over their time in order to focus on what matters, in a way that reduces stress and increases emotional well-being. This talk will be highly interactive and organic, with plenty of opportunity to discuss ideas and insights around time management. So don't be afraid to ask questions and share your thoughts and stories!

About the Trainer

Brad Aeon is an Assistant Professor at the School of Management Sciences at University of Quebec in Montreal. He conducts research on the sociology, history, and philosophy of time management. His studies focus on how people can achieve what matters to them while reducing stress and living more meaningful lives. Brad’s ideas and insights have been featured in top-tier media outlets worldwide, including the BBC News, the Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, the Huffington Post, and many others. His 2017 TEDx Talk, "The Philosophy of Time Management," urges people to reflect on their relationship with time and on how to live more mindfully.

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

This interactive course is complementary to other courses within the Continuous Improvement theme and is designed to give delegates the knowledge and tools to;

• plan and deliver process improvement workshops
• coach and support others to improve processes

No one cares as much about your future as you do. This interactive session is designed to empower you to take control of your career development and spur you in to action. It is common to feel stuck, or uncertain about the future. We will help you to confront these fears and move forward positively. We will share with you some of the many interesting opportunities open to you so that you can explore your options, build your confidence and develop your skills, at your own pace and in a way that suits you. By the end of the session, you should feel confident to start drawing up a Personal Development Plan so that you can reach your full potential.

Do you suspect there’s an easier way of doing something? Feel like you're wasting time doing pointless steps in a process? Join this interactive session to discover a new continuous improvement tool called Kaizen to help you eliminate unnecessary work and simplify the tasks that you need to do.

Knowing and using your strengths, living your values, caging your confidence gremlins, building a network in a way that works for you, and exploring your future possibilities are the essential skills to have a happy and successful squiggly career.

Join bestselling author and podcaster Sarah Ellis from Amazing If to get inspired about building a ‘squiggly career’ at the University. You may be surprised at the opportunities available across our professional services community. Join online via Zoom or watch and join the zoom chat with colleagues at the Triangle building.

Please note that guests attending the earlier session at the Triangle building will have the option to stay and watch on the big screen at the Lecture Theatre.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we work forever. One of the biggest challenges that employers face is how to navigate new hybrid ways of working that deliver both improved productivity and a happier, healthier workforce. This interactive, small group session, will invite participates to share their thoughts on the last year, how we centre staff wellbeing in new ways of working and how we may overcome any obstacles along the way?

The session will be facilitated by Jenny Rampling, (Senior Programme Coordinator at ourcambridge), who is part of the ‘Cambridge Works – New ways of working’ project team at the University.

In this session we will explore the complex and nuanced ways technology can keep us awake at night. Touching on the role of blue light but discovering other elements that contribute to our lack of sleep: addictive social media algorithms and the effect of different types of digital media.

About the Trainer

Dr. Michael Grandner is a licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine. He is the Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Banner-University Medical Center in Tucson. Dr. Grandner is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, Medicine, Nutritional Sciences, and Clinical Translational Science at the University of Arizona. He is an internationally-recognized expert in sleep health, has over 200 academic publications, and frequently consults with health, technology, athletics, and nutritional companies and organizations regarding sleep, health, and performance. Read more about him at http://michaelgrandner.com.

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

This is one session in a series of structured workshops to discuss individual aspects of new ways of working.

A panel discussion with professional services leaders talking about their collective vision for professional services at the University. Followed by a Q&A where staff can ask leaders about change underway in finance, HR or research support, for example.

In this session Lucy Hargreaves, Interim Head of the Change and Programme Management Office (CPMO), will explain the remit of the CPMO and share insights into the office's priorities and activities over the coming months.

This will be followed by an open feedback session, where you will have the opportunity to share your experience of being involved in and/or managing projects at the University of Cambridge. Come prepared with your feedback, examples and any questions you would like to ask Lucy.

The course is designed to give participants an overview of Lean thinking as applied within Higher Education, and an explanation of some of the basic tools used to make improvements to processes. This session will focus on how to break down a problem and work towards a justifiable and confident decision to achieve the best outcome you can.

The course is designed to give participants an overview of the history and principles of the Lean methodology, and an explanation of some of the basic tools used to make improvements to processes. This session will provide some basic tools that can be used immediately to facilitate a continuous improvement way of working

This course is accredited with the LCS (Lean Competency System), a certificate will be provided on completion of a short assessment.

Details regarding LCS can be found here - https://www.leancompetency.org/

The course is designed to give participants an overview of the history and principles of the Lean methodology, and an explanation of some of the basic tools used to make improvements to processes. This session will provide some basic tools that can be used immediately to facilitate a continuous improvement way of working

This course is accredited with the LCS (Lean Competency System), a certificate will be provided on completion of a short assessment.

Details regarding LCS can be found here - https://www.leancompetency.org/

Note - an 'in person' session is also available to book via https://www.training.cam.ac.uk/ourcambridge/event/4155431

This short video provides an overview of Kaizen as a Continuous Improvement methodology

We believe in the people at the heart of what we do, and we believe in the importance of leadership and management. The CoP will aim to champion best practice, build on communal expertise, and provide support across the diversity of our staff. We will work alongside the change programmes, supporting those with leadership and management roles in making the most of those programmes, and helping the University to continue to thrive. The Community of Practice will run events, encourage ongoing conversation amongst peers and provide feedback / requests to central teams, advocating for change in a constructive way. To launch the Community of Practice, we are excited to be hosting our first event at The Postdoc Academy, Eddington on Tuesday 21st May. Join us to celebrate the new CoP, meet colleagues & learn more!

This workshop offers an opportunity for personal reflection, based on the 5 squiggly skills: values, strengths, career community, confidence and progression possibilities. Whether leading a team, contributing to a project or as a member of the diverse university community, we all have opportunities to role-model and encourage colleagues to develop these life and career skills. Explore some squiggly ways to do this!

• The course provides an LCS accredited Lean Practitioner qualification. The course involves a 2-day training session followed by completion of a 6-week project.

https://www.leancompetency.org/

A charge of £200 is applied to this course. Payment is via PO or credit card and the booking will be confirmed on receipt of PO or confirmation of payment. Please see the payment policy https://www.training.cam.ac.uk/ourcambridge/info/payment for payment details etc.

A presentation designed to offer an insight into apprenticeships, what they are, how they’re funded and how a potential learner, or recruiting manager, can take full advantage of the opportunities and benefits that they offer, educationally and financially.

If you have any burning questions about apprenticeships, for yourself or as a recruiting manager, this is the session for you.

Confidence is one the skills that helps us to overcome the challenges and constraints that come our way as part of a squiggly career. Increasing our confidence gives us the belief to make the most of opportunities and be curious and ambitious about where our careers can take us.

Join bestselling author and podcaster Sarah Ellis from Amazing If in this career programme as we discuss how you can cage your confidence gremlins (the limiting beliefs that hold us back).

The zoom link for the session will be provided at a later date.

An interactive and thought provoking session about exploring ways to shape your job into the career you love.

A notebook and a pen are required. Be prepared to participate, reflect and note things down.

During this interactive session the ourcambridge Simplifying our Processes team will look at how habits can be established and how this can be applied to Lean tools and techniques, so helping to embed Continuous Improvement across the University.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing is an evidence-based framework of actions we can all take to improve our wellbeing. Find out what they are and come away with five (or more!) small actions you are going to take for your own wellbeing.

Bring along a way to jot down the actions you will commit to.