ABSTRACT
The first year plan will help guide the higher educational institution through a successful launch and the activities that follow. The plan should be visual and constantly evolving. Ideally, it should be referred to frequently as a tool to ensure the institution is on track towards achieving its goals. Once initial projects are identified, it is time to identify the project lead or point person for each of those projects. The Lean/continuous improvement facilitator should contact each project lead to schedule a 1-hour meeting to develop the project scope for each initial project. The project scope comprises of Project Statement or Problem Statement, Project Background, Project Parameters, Project Lead, Project Participants, Project Goals/Objectives, and Project Metrics. Data should be available to tell the story of now and of the future including the problems that are being addressed and communicating the improvements. Metrics can be tracked just through the end of the implementation phase or long term.
