An overview of Edinburgh Napier University's Sutainable Futures initiative, looking at motivation, methodology, and the practical process of involvement.

1. A quick introduction to
Sustainable Futures
Why What How

3. Why
Concept Context Outcomes

4. Why | Concept
Continuously
Sustainable
People solving
future
problems

5. Why | Context
Edinburgh Napier Staff member
• "I just want to make things better here, for my students"
Universities UK
• "we will all be facing increased pressure to demonstrate
efficiency and effectiveness, and above all that we are
providing value for money."
Universities Scotland
• "It’s crucial for Scotland that our universities remain
competitive - over £1 billion of income [...] depends on it."

6. Why | Outcomes
1) Students & Staff
• Improved student experience and satisfied staff
2) Culture & Behaviours
• Continuous improvement & respect for people
• Supporting our values
(Professional, Ambitious, Innovative, Inclusive)
3) Organisational Impact
• Staff & University areas engaging
4) Estimated Savings
• Resources released to grow value adding activity

7. What
People
Principles Model
say

8. What | Principles
Customer focus
• putting the student and the research at the centre
• increasing the value the University delivers
• getting it right first time
Attending to causes rather than symptoms
• addressing the root of the issue
• working systemically and holistically across University structures
Using meaningful measures
• use data to inform decision making
• supporting our strategic direction
Focus on getting things done
• collaborating with the people who do, and understand, the work to improve it
• with an emphasis on ongoing achievable incremental change
• and the ambition to always be aiming for the best

9. What | Model

Process
Tools & Skills
Values & Culture

10. What | People say
Project feedback
• "Improved efficiency + high morale will
improve working relationships" "it will reduce
[...] workload"
• "Applicant experience will improve, hopefully
converting more applicants into students"
• “[it] has been really positive and the meetings
have helped to structure the process…"

11. How
Products Process People

12. How | Products
Rapid Improvement Event
• A 5 day facilitated workshop to redesign a significant cross
functional process
Process Review
• A number of facilitated workshops to enable process redesign
Rapid Impact Analysis
• A short-time assessment of data and current state processes resulting
in recommendations for action
Coaching
• One to one support for a staff member in the tools, approaches and
skills to enable them to lead an identified improvement

13. How | Process
Initiation Implementation Handover
& Planning & Close
• Spot an idea • Understand the • Overcome barriers
• Work out feasability current state • Ensure new way
• Ensure proper scope • Generate and becomes business
• Involve the right analyse options as usual
people • Design a future state • Learn from this
• Learn what the data • Make the changes process
says • Identify what to do
next

14. What | People
Front
line
• Deliver
outcomes
• Bring their
expertise

15. Edinburgh Napier University is a registered Scottish charity. Reg. No. SC018373
This work by Edinburgh Napier University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License