Pillar or platform—a taxonomy for process improvement activities in public services

Abstract

Research into Lean in public services and particularly implementation, needs to develop from reporting cases to provide a taxonomy for researchers and practitioners. The paper outlines two approaches to process improvement activities (PIAs)—’Pillar’ and ‘Platform’ and tests the validity of these approaches through two organizational case studies (96 PIAs are considered). The degree to which this taxonomy supports decision-making is explored and issues associated with implementation are discussed.

Keywords:

• Continuous improvement
• education
• healthcare
• Lean
• PIA

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicola Bateman

Nicola Bateman is Associate Professor, School of Business and Economics, University of Leicester, UK.

Sarah Lethbridge

Sarah Lethbridge is Director of Executive Education, Postgraduate Teaching Centre, Cardiff University, UK.

Ann Esain

Ann Esain is an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Buckingham and CI manager at Orange Box, UK.