The Language of ELEVATE

Action Plan

A detailed implementation plan that identifies what needs to be done, who is responsible, and when it will be completed.

Action Planning and Implementation

Action Register

A list of approved actions needed to move from the current state to the future state process.

Action Planning and Implementation

Benefit Realization

The process of documenting and measuring the expected outcomes of an improvement effort.

Action Planning and Implementation

Countermeasure

A specific action implemented to reduce or eliminate a root cause, barrier, or risk.

Action Planning and Implementation

Implementation Team

A group responsible for overseeing, supporting, and monitoring the transition from the current state to the future state process.

Action Planning and Implementation

Sustainability

The ability to maintain an improvement over time through monitoring, accountability, coaching, and continuous learning.

Action Planning and Implementation

Continuous Flow

The uninterrupted movement of services, information, or work through a process with minimal delays, bottlenecks, or waiting.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Continuous Improvement (CI)

An ongoing effort to enhance an organization's products, services, or processes through small, incremental changes. The 5 key principles of continuous improvement are customer focus, process thinking, data-driven decisions, employee involvement, and incremental change.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Kaizen (kai·​zen ˈkī-ˌzen)

A Japanese term meaning "continuous improvement," based on the belief that many small improvements over time create significant positive change.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Lean

A philosophy focused on maximizing value while minimizing waste through continuous improvement and respect for people.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Operational Excellence

The ongoing pursuit of improved quality, service, effectiveness, efficiency, and value creation.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Pull System

A process design in which work is performed only when it is needed rather than in anticipation of future demand.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Rapid Improvement Event (RIE)

A focused, short-term team effort to quickly identify, test, and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and outcomes.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Respect for People

The foundational principle that an organization achieves its best results by developing the capabilities of its people, trusting them to identify and solve problems, and building systems that make their work meaningful rather than degrading.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Value

Anything that directly contributes to meeting the needs of students, patients, faculty, staff, researchers, or other stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Value Stream

The complete set of activities required to deliver value to a beneficiary.

Continuous Improvement Concepts

Beneficiary

The person, group, or organization receiving value from a process.

Beneficiaries

Customer

Anyone who receives the output of a process.

Beneficiaries

Stakeholder

Any person or group impacted by the process or improvement effort.

Beneficiaries

Voice of the Beneficiary (VoB)

Information gathered to understand what beneficiaries need, expect, and value.

Beneficiaries

Voice of the Customer (VoC)

The documented needs, expectations, preferences, and feedback of the people who receive the products, services, or outcomes of a process.

Beneficiaries

Voice of the Employee (VoE)

Feedback and insights from employees involved in a process.

Beneficiaries

Voice of the Process (VoP)

Data and observations describing how the process is currently performing.

Beneficiaries

Voice of the University (VoU)

Strategic goals, mission priorities, leadership expectations, and institutional requirements influencing process performance.

Beneficiaries

Capabilities Building

Developing the skills, tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to lead and sustain improvement efforts.

Green Belt and Capability Development

Cohort

A group of faculty and staff who participate in an ELEVATE training program together.

Green Belt and Capability Development

Cohort-Based Learning

A learning model where participants progress through training as a group, learning from a facilitator conducting the training and supporting one another.

Green Belt and Capability Development

Cross-Functional Team

A team composed of members from different departments, schools, or functions working toward a shared objective.

Green Belt & Capability Development

Facilitator

A trained individual who guides teams through improvement activities, workshops, and Rapid Improvement Events. Facilitators guide the process, not the solution.

Green Belt & Capability Development

Facilitator-in-Training (FIT)

An employee developing the knowledge, skills and experience needed to become a Facilitator.

Green Belt & Capability Development

Green Belt

An employee trained in structured problem-solving and process improvement methods who has developed the skills to lead improvement initiatives and projects.

Green Belt & Capability Development

Learning by Doing

A principle that emphasizes applying improvement concepts through real-world projects.

Green Belt & Capability Development

Mentoring

A relationship where an experienced practitioner supports the growth and development of another employee.

Green Belt & Capability Development

A3

A structured problem-solving and communication tool that summarizes a project as a problem-solving practice, a single piece of paper, a template, or a report.

Planning, Measurement & Strategy

Baseline Performance

The current level of process performance before improvements are implemented.

Planning, Measurement & Strategy

Data-Informed Decision Making

Using evidence, facts, and measurable information to guide decisions.

Planning, Measurement & Strategy

Institutional Effectiveness

The ongoing process of planning, measuring, assessing, and improving outcomes to fulfill UMB's mission.

Planning, Measurement & Strategy

Measurement

The collection and analysis of data to understand current performance and evaluate improvement efforts.

Planning, Measurement & Strategy

Outcome

The measurable result or impact of an improvement initiative.

Planning, Measurement & Strategy

SMART Goal

A goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

Planning, Measurement & Strategy

Affinity Diagram

A tool used to organize ideas into themes or categories after brainstorming.

Process Improvement Tools

BOSCARD

A project scoping tool that defines Background, Objectives, Scope, Constraints, Assumptions, Risks, and Deliverables.

Process Improvement Tools

Brainstorming

A structured method for generating ideas, solutions, or improvement opportunities.

Process Improvement Tools

Cause-and-Effect Diagram (Fishbone Diagram)

A visual tool used to identify and organize possible causes of a problem.

Process Improvement Tools

Current State Process Map

A visual representation of how a process operates today.

Process Improvement Tools

Five Whys

A root cause analysis tool that repeatedly asks "Why?" to identify underlying causes of a problem.

Process Improvement Tools

Future State Process Map

A redesigned representation of how a process should operate after improvements are implemented.

Process Improvement Tools

Gemba Walk

The practice of observing work where it actually occurs in order to learn and understand the process.

Process Improvement Tools

Interrelationship Diagraph

A root cause analysis tool used to understand relationships among multiple causes.

Process Improvement Tools

PICK Chart

A prioritization tool used to evaluate solutions based on ease of implementation and expected benefit.

Process Improvement Tools

Process Mapping

The practice of visually documenting how work flows through a process.

Process Improvement Tools

Root Cause Analysis

A structured approach used to identify the underlying causes of a problem.

Process Improvement Tools

SIPOC

A process scoping tool that identifies Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, and Customers.

Process Improvement Tools

Team Charter

A document that defines a project's team members, stakeholders, process to be reviewed, problem statement/current state, objectives/goals/target state, scope, and metrics to measure target outcomes?

Process Improvement Tools

Barrier

Anything that slows work, creates frustration, or prevents desired outcomes.

Process Performance & Flow

Batch Processing

Accumulating work and processing it in groups rather than individually.

Process Performance & Flow

Bottleneck

A point in a process where work accumulates or slows down.

Process Performance & Flow

Cycle Time

The amount of time required to complete an activity or process step.

Process Performance & Flow

Flow

The movement of work, information, services, or decisions through a process.

Process Performance & Flow

Handoff

The transfer of work, information, or responsibility between individuals, offices, or departments.

Process Performance & Flow

Lead Time

The total elapsed time from the beginning of a process until completion.

Process Performance & Flow

One-Piece Flow

The movement of work through a process one item at a time rather than in batches.

Process Performance & Flow

Swim Lane

A visual element during process mapping that separates tasks performed by different people, roles, or departments.

Process Performance & Flow

5S

A workplace organization method consisting of Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.

Quality, Standards & Visual Management

FIFO (First In, First Out)

A flow management principle ensuring work is processed in the order it is received.

Quality, Standards & Visual Management

Mistake Proofing (Poka-Yoke)

Designing processes to prevent errors or make them immediately visible.

Quality, Standards & Visual Management

Standard Work

The documented best-known method for consistently performing a process.

Quality, Standards & Visual Management

Visual Management

Tools and systems that make process performance visible and understandable at a glance.

Quality, Standards & Visual Management

Visual Control

Visual cues that help employees understand process status, priorities, and standards.

Quality, Standards & Visual Management

Correction Waste

Waste caused by errors, rework, or correcting mistakes.

Waste & Process Challenges

Impediment to Flow

Anything that disrupts or slows the movement of work through a process.

Waste & Process Challenges

Inventory Waste

Waste resulting from stockpiling materials, information, or unfinished work.

Waste & Process Challenges

Knowledge Disconnection

Waste that occurs when needed information, expertise, or communication is not effectively shared.

Waste & Process Challenges

Movement Waste

Unnecessary movement of people, equipment, information, or materials.

Waste & Process Challenges

Non-Value Added Activity (NVA)

An activity that consumes resources without creating value for all beneficiaries.

Waste & Process Challenges

Non-Value Added but Necessary (NVAN)

An activity that does not create value but is currently required.

Waste & Process Challenges

Overburdening

Unreasonable demands placed on people, processes, equipment, or facilities.

Waste & Process Challenges

Overprocessing

Performing more work or adding more complexity than is needed.

Waste & Process Challenges

Overproduction

Producing work, services, information, or materials before they are needed.

Waste & Process Challenges

Transport Waste

Unnecessary movement of materials, information, or people between locations.

Waste & Process Challenges

Unevenness

Irregular or inconsistent workload distribution that creates inefficiencies and instability.

Waste & Process Challenges

Value-Added Activity

A process step that directly contributes to meeting customer and stakeholder expectations.

Waste & Process Challenges

Waiting Waste

Time lost while work waits for information, approvals, decisions, resources, or action.

Waste & Process Challenges

Waste

Any activity that consumes time, effort, or resources without creating value.

Waste & Process Challenges

Report Out

A formal presentation summarizing an improvement effort, including results, lessons learned, implementation plans, and next steps.

Reporting & Communication

RIE Scorecard

A tool used to document current performance, future targets, projected outcomes, and improvement results.

Reporting & Communication