Sydney Business & Travel Academy

Sydney Business & Travel Academy Contribute to workplace improvements with Sue Cameron Sessions 3 & 4 Opportunities

Agenda 3 • Reminder on Housekeeping issues • Class Rules • Revision on Session 2 • Generating ideas or solutions • Brainstorming session • Evaluating and reviewing the ideas

Housekeeping Issues • Duty of Care • Emergency Procedures • Class List • Please leave the class room clean and tidy • Class is from 5 – 8.30 with a break at 6.30pm (15 minutes)

Class Rules • Please be on time (Australian Time) • Turn off mobiles during class • Attendance 80% means you must attend at least 6 out of 9 classes • Please no talking except in activities • Sorry but no food or drinks in the class room

Revision Q&A • What is the purpose of an organisation chart? • What are the 2 types of feedback? • What sort of questions should you ask to obtain feedback? • What questions do you ask for self reflection? • (this is on the Reflective Cycle) • Who is responsible for contributing to improvements in the workplace?

Revision Q&A • To indicate the roles and structure of the organisation • Formal and informal • Open questions such as What, Why, Where, When and How • What happened? How did I feel? What else could I have done? and What will I do next time? • Everyone

Revision Q&A 6. What is the system called that is based on improvement in the workplace? 7. What is the first thing you do in identifying areas for improvement in the workplace? 8. What are you looking for? 9. What is a tool you can use to identify these areas? 10. What is Lean manufacturing?

Revision Q&A • Continuous Improvement • Assess the current workplace • Gaps, opportunities or problems in the workplace • Conduct a SWOT analysis • It is a system to eliminate waste, speed up and improve a manufacturing system and is based on what the customer wants and adds value to both the customer and the business

Revision Q&A 11. What is Kaizen and where did it start? 12. Does Continual Improvement mean large or small changes in business systems? 13. What does incremental mean? 14. What does innovation mean? 15. What is the first thing we do to be innovative?

Revision Q&A 11. Kaizen is a continual improvement system which was initiated in Japan, originally for car manufacturing companies 12. Both large and small • Increased (often used in small steps) • Creating something new or improving something that is of valve and can be sold • Pay attention to what we do and how we do it

Revision Q&A 16. What is an example of an innovation in the hospitality industry? 17. Why are innovation and continuous improvement important in business? • How do you check and clarify areas where improvements can be made? • What is a policy? • What is a procedure?

Revision Q&A 16. Organising a room so there is more space, upgrading the mini-bar, streamlining the staff roster to make it more efficient etc etc 17. To compete in the market place, to energise and motivate your staff 18. Observation of problems, inefficient work practices and understanding P&Ps and asking questions to ensure a good understanding 19. The organisation’s rules 20. Step by step on how to comply with the rules

Generating ideas for improvement • Generate a range of ideas or solutions may involve: • Talking to colleagues or supervisors • Considering how work practices are applied in other workplaces • Using brainstorming techniques • Visualising different ways of working • Developing check lists and plans

Generating ideas for improvement • Gather information relevant to ideas • Review ideas for relevance and practicality • Further develop suitable ideas based on information collection and review • Developing suitable ideas may involve; • thinking through all aspects of the idea • exploring processes, resources and time to implement ideas

Definition of Brainstorming • Process for generating creative ideas and solutions through intensive and freewheeling group discussion • Every participant is encouraged to think aloud and suggest as many ideas as possible, no matter seemingly how outlandish or bizarre • Analysis, discussion, or criticism of the aired ideas is allowed only when the brainstorming session is over and evaluation session beginsReference: Business Dictionary.com (May 2013) http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/brainstorming.html

Brainstorming • Brainstorming sessions are the best-known type of new ideas meeting • It is a technique that starts members thinking and communicating and helps them explore, refine and develop new ideas • Out of all the ideas offered, an innovation may emerge (appear) in the form of a new product, service or process

Brainstorming • Information-seeking and new ideas meetings combine the knowledge, skills, ideas and experience of several people at once • Hold these meetings when something new, such as the way to cut costs or introduce a new procedure, needs to be developed • With everyone contributing, creative solutions are more easily conceived

Brainstorming • Participants are encouraged to provide wild and unexpected answers • Ideas receive no criticism or discussion • The group simply provides ideas that might lead to a solution and apply no analytical judgement as to the feasibility • The judgements are reserved for a later date

Why use Brainstorming? • For identifying problems • Generating solutions • Decision making • Assisting with the planning process • Generating new ideas

Tips for Brainstorming • Make sure the topic is specific and everyone understands both it the goal of the brainstorming session • Don’t expect to come up with a great idea every time, if you have this expectation, the pressure will stifle your brain to freewheel • Brainstorm for ideas only, don’t discuss or explain; this can come later

Tips for Brainstorming • Allow no criticism, verbal or non-verbal (groans, raised eyebrows etc) Criticism kills creativity • Write up every idea or suggestion as it comes, don’t edit, improve or change the words • Everyone should be able to see the ideas been generated

Tips for Brainstorming • An electronic white board butchers paper are best because ideas can be saved for future reference. • Print the ideas large enough for everyone to see • Make sure everyone has a say, either by calling out ideas or use the ‘round robin’ technique

Tips for Brainstorming • Forget normal constraints and limitations – Be wild ! Ideas can be made more sensible later • Build on each other ideas • Have some fun • Laughter and fun encourage creativity Reference: Management – Theory and Practice by Chris Cole (2005)

Activity • As a class call out any ideas on the following topic

Other techniques • Lateral thinking (Edward De Bono) • Mind mapping • As there was a technical problem with the internet we shall now go to the Power Point Presentation on ‘Innovation and teams’

Next Session • Revision Q&A • Discuss ideas with others • Team work • Don’t forget to check out the Assignment on e-learning, so you can commence this project

Sydney Business & Travel Academy