WORK IMPROVEMENT TEAMSWORK IMPROVEMENT TEAMS(WIT)(WIT)

Dr S SridharanDr S Sridharan

WHAT ARE WITS?WHAT ARE WITS?

They are essentially employee-based They are essentially employee-based small group activities. small group activities.

Their aims: Their aims: To provide staff with opportunities for To provide staff with opportunities for

meaningful involvement;meaningful involvement; Contribution and challenge;Contribution and challenge; Bottom line results-higher quality Bottom line results-higher quality

outputs and service; andoutputs and service; and Improved productivityImproved productivity

WIT comprises a group of between 3-15 members belonging to the same work unit (e.g. the OPD members) who meet regularly to identify, analyze and solve problems and improve outputs of their work unit.

They also implement improvement measures or recommend them to management

WHAT ARE WIT WHAT ARE WIT OBJECTIVES?OBJECTIVES?

WITS aims to improve:WITS aims to improve:

• PerformancePerformanceo Quality of service, outputQuality of service, outputo ProductivityProductivity

• MotivationMotivationo Making work more meaningfulMaking work more meaningfulo Providing little challenges here and thereProviding little challenges here and thereo Having open and effective communicationHaving open and effective communicationo Developing more positive attitudesDeveloping more positive attitudes

►The Quality of Work Life (QWL)The Quality of Work Life (QWL)o Job satisfactionJob satisfactiono Work environmentWork environmento Teamwork and human relationsTeamwork and human relations

WITs seek to effect qualitative WITs seek to effect qualitative improvements in the following areas:improvements in the following areas:

Service to the customer / publicInputs, outputsUse of resourcesProcedures, workflow, systems, methodsWork environmentWorkload managementCoordinationSafetyEfficiency and effectivenessSkills and knowledge

ROLE OF THE LEADER

Gets subordinates to join WIT activities

Leads the WIT and involves team members in solving problems or bringing about improvements relevant to the team’s work

Works closely with the facilitator in projects undertaken by WIT

ROLE OF WITs MEMBERS

Attend meetings regularly Share and contribute ideas, effort and time to

help and improve the team’s effectiveness Cooperate with and help team leader and others Participate in problem-solving activities of the

group Effect improvements arising from projects

carried out by the team

ROLE OF THE STEERING COMMITEE

Sets overall goals and objectives for WITs Sets policies and procedures for WITs

operations Promotes WITs activities Selects and appoints WITs facilitators Evaluates and rewards WITs activities Allocates rsources for WITs operation Manages WITs programme and takes

corrective action wherever necessary

ROLE OF THE ROLE OF THE FACILITATORFACILITATOR

Energizes and catalyses the formation of WITs Trains WIT leaders Coaches and advices the leaders and

members e.g. reminds the WIT to take into account organizational and customer needs, and helps the WIT accept feedback positively

Acts as a link between the WITs and the Steering Committee – provides feedback to both and coordinates the management presentation

Registers WITs, monitors and reports WITs activities to the Steering committee

HOW DOES A WIT HOW DOES A WIT OPERATEOPERATE

Basic Steps

Step 1Identify areas to

be improved

Step 2Priorities and select areas

to be improved

Step 3Collect, examine and

Analyze data

Step 4Develop proposals / recommendations

Step 5Communicate

Recommendations to management

Step 6Implement

Step 7Monitor and take corrective action