IQ Teams@NUS Work Improvement is Everybody’s Responsibility.

IQ Teams@NUS

Work Improvement is

Everybody’s Responsibility

Background

• Work Improvement Team (WIT) is a group of people from same work area, who meet regularly to identify, examine, analyse and solve problems pertaining to their work

• Launched in the Civil Service in 1981 and NUS in 1983

Limitations of WITs

Objective Focus on localised problems

Approach Bottom-up

Team Membership Same work area. Employee can only be member of one team

Project Methodology

PDCA and restricted to WIT tools

Recognition/Incentive

Participation-based

Administration/Registration

Prior formalisation and registration

Reasons for Change

• Form is crowding out substance in WITs– Focus on formalities of methodology and

presentation• Enhance NUS productivity and quality strategies

– Productivity improvement must come from our PEOPLE

– Quality improvement by adding real value to work through knowledge

Key Changes WIT IQ Team

Objective Focus on localised problems

Focus on localised problem and organisation objective

Approach Bottom-up Top-down and bottom-up

Team Membership Same work area. Employee can only be member of one team

Same/different work area.Employee can be a member of more than one team

Project Methodology PDCA and restricted to WIT tools

PDCA with no restriction on the use of tools and techniques

Recognition/Incentive

Participation-based Participation & result-based

Administration/Registration

Prior formalisation and registration

No prior formalisation & registrationRegistration by project

Objectives of IQ Teams• Increase employee commitment to quality, productivity

and efficiency

• Improve and increase employee decision-making, involvement and accountability at the workplace

• Help the department to achieve established objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs)

• Strengthen employee problem solving, analytical and teambuilding skills

• Reduce waste, lower costs

• Improve service level and organisational performance

What is an IQ Team?• IQ stands for

– Innovation and Quality

– Individual and collective IQ (Intelligence Quotient)

• Each work unit @NUS is a NATURAL work improvement team or IQ Team where part of his/her job function is to continually improve the way things work.

• A work unit is a group of staff members required to carry out a given job function.

• Every individual is a natural member of IQ Team

• A mechanism that allows staff to develop their competencies and add value to their work.

IQ Structure

Unit Head

QSM

Facilitator Facilitator

Leader Leader

MembersMembers

Leader

Members

Leader

Members

Work Unit Work Unit

OQM

Work Unit Work Unit

WORK IMPROVEMENT

IQ Implementation

HOD

IQ Team

QSM

OQM

Develop BSC & Set

KPIs

Identify Key Areas for

Improvement

Identify Area for

Improvement

Analyse Area for

Improvement

Proposed Solutions

Submit Project via

VOICE

Evaluate & Implement Proposed Solutions

Receive payment

Compile Reports

Submit Award to

OFN

Incentive for Completed IQ Project

Four Possible Options:• Planned for implementation

– Maximum award of $140

• Already under consideration– Token award of $8

• May be considered for future implementation– Token award of $8

• Not considered for implementation– No award

Incentive for Completed IQ Project

• Planned for Implementation ($10 per point)

Criteria No Yes (Rating Scale)

Raises Productivity

0 1 One time& impact on 1 area (eg. one time increase in labour productivity)

2 One time & impact > 1 area (eg. one time increase in labour & material productivity)

3 Recurrent & impact on 1 area (eg. recurrent increase in labour productivity over a period of time)

4 Recurrent & impact > 1 area (eg. recurrent increase in labour & material productivity over a period of time)

Incentive for Completed IQ Project

• Planned for Implementation ($10 per point)

Criteria No Yes (Rating Scale)

Saves Costs 0 1 One time & impact on 1 area (eg. one timesaving in labour cost)

2 One time & impact > 1 area (eg. one time saving in labour & material costs)

3 Recurrent & impact on 1 area (eg. recurrent saving in labour cost over a period of time)

4 Recurrent & impact > 1 area (eg. recurrent saving in labour & material costs over a period of time)

Incentive for Completed IQ Project

• Planned for Implementation ($10 per point)

Criteria No Yes (Rating Scale)

Enhances Customer Service/NUS Image

0 1 Enhances either customer service or NUS image

2 Enhances both customer service & NUS image

Improves Safety & Health

0 1 Improves either safety or health

2 Improves both safety and health

Other Benefits 0 1 One other benefit not listed above

2 > 1 other benefit not listed above

Total Awarded 0 14 Maximum

Cash Awarded

0 14 $140 (maximum)

Other Awards

• Outstanding IQ Projects

• Participation in PS21 ExCEL/National IQC Convention

IQ Incentive & Award Scheme

• Replaces the WIT’s meeting & gathering allowances with effect from 1 April 2004

• Focuses on RESULTS rather than formality

• All IQ projects completed and submitted on and after 1 April 2004 will come under the new scheme

IQ VOICE

IQ VOICE

IQ VOICE

IQ VOICE

IQ VOICE

IQ VOICE

Resources

• VOICE for IQ Project submission & evaluation via staff intranet

• OQM’s website at http://www.nus.edu.sg/oqm• OHR’s Staff Development & Training website• IQC’s website at http://www.iqc.org.sg/index.asp• For IQ assistance:

– Johnson Ong, [email protected], 6874-2430– Perry Hee, [email protected], 6874-4559

Thank You