Lean Learning Overview

The UCSF Health Continuous Improvement Department offers several different options for Lean and Continuous Improvement trainings, based on your priorities. The four most common requests are for:

  • Training to develop and deepen problem-solving proficiency (A3 Thinking)
  • Training to develop leadership skills to align teams around True North (TN) goals, communicate progress, and coaching on problem-solving (Active Daily Engagement)
  • Training to learn and apply fundamental Lean and implementation science systems and tools, emphasizing clinical scenarios for improvement (Improvement and Leadership Development Program)
  • Training to refine leadership and communication skills, and to practice and apply common strategies

A3 Thinking Problem Solving Training

Overview: This is a methodical, deliberate approach for problem-solving. The framework emphasizes critical reasoning skills and uses evidence to design improvement experiments. This approach is valuable for prioritizing, planning, and communicating improvement efforts at UCSF Health. Participants practice drafting A3 thinking using individual problems, and provide coaching to others in problem-solving.

Who should attend?

  • All leaders
  • Anyone with accountability for problem-solving
  • Those entering leadership positions

Active Daily Engagement (ADE) Training

Overview: This is our organizational management system that focuses on communication of True North priorities, alignment in improvement efforts, problem-solving at the source, and working within a systems‐based practice. Participants create visual management for communicating progress on key initiatives, and practice coaching during Leader Rounds.

Who should attend?

  • Leaders responsible for TN goals and/or leader rounds
  • Teammates participating in huddles

Prerequisite: A3 Thinking

Improvement and Leadership Development Program (6-Part Training Series)

Overview: The purpose of these training workshops is to develop effective improvement proficiency in leaders working to advance UCSF Health’s True North goals.

Who should attend? Leaders and key stakeholders who are engaged in, or about to be engaged in, active improvement work with support from our Continuous Improvement (CI) team. For example –

  • Directors, Medical Directors
  • Quality Improvement Champions
  • Caring Wisely project leaders
  • Value Improvement leaders
  • Unit and Practice leaders
  • Leaders working on specific improvement work in their areas
  • High-potential clinical and operational leaders identified by their senior leaders

What to expect?

  • The time commitment is attendance at all sessions of the Improvement and Leadership Development Program.
  • Participants are expected to complete an oral teach-back at the completion of training, to achieve the designation of UCSF Health Lean Champion.
  • Improvement and Leadership Development Program topics and descriptions are listed here. Each session is 8 hours in duration, experientially based, and focuses on clinical scenarios.
  • Lean and Continuous Improvement Tools are recommended for leaders who are coaching, leading, or participating in active improvement work.