Where Academia meets Operational Excellence
Welcome to our site! Our Continuous Improvement & Data Analytics (CIDA) teams work collaboratively with University partners to enhance the University's operational excellence through data-driven insights and process optimization. We provide process improvement-focused consulting services, partnering with departments to streamline workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and implement best practices. We also focus on data enhancement, transforming raw institutional data into actionable intelligence that informs strategic decision-making across all levels of the organization.
We empower University stakeholders to leverage data effectively, optimize operations, and drive sustainable improvements that align with our institution's strategic goals. To learn more about our team and to see our full list of service offerings (at no additional cost) for University partners, please see our Service Offerings page.
Boston University is a member of the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI), a national peer network of nearly 100 higher education institutions committed to advancing change, innovation, and continuous improvement across academic and administrative functions. Why NCCI Matters to BU As part of BU’s institutional membership, every faculty and staff member have access to a wide […]
Recent operational reviews have highlighted that building strategic capacity is important for improving the efficiency and resilience of any organization, particularly in situations where hiring additional staff is not feasible. Budget constraints or other factors often necessitate making the most of existing resources. In these scenarios, focusing on increasing the capacity of current teams becomes […]
In a recent operational review, our team identified key process inefficiencies rooted not in system limitations, but in behavioral patterns shaped by communication gaps. Specifically, we observed that individuals were frequently defaulting to last-minute workflows, particularly in areas involving procurement and planning, despite the availability of more efficient, cost-effective options. This reactive approach often led […]
Recently, the CIDA team partnered with a BU department to assess, from a holistic point of view, the effectiveness of that department in meeting the needs of their students and to identify areas for improvement. The methodology employed by the CIDA team was thorough and multifaceted, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the department's operations. Engaging […]
Recently, the CIDA team successfully led and coordinated efforts to establish operational processes to support a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) at the University. This initiative required coordination across many departments, including the Provost’s office, Labor Relations, Payroll, Financial Aid, Accounts Payable, Transportation Services, IS&T, and more. We had tight timelines and critical deadlines to meet […]
The DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) framework is a powerful tool that can be immensely useful in the context of higher education administration. At CIDA, we employ DMAIC for the majority of our projects, and the results have been consistently positive. At its core, DMAIC is a structured approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement. […]
As a university community member, you're likely on the lookout for ways to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and provide better service to students, faculty, and staff. One valuable tool to have in your continuous improvement toolkit is process mapping. So, what exactly is process mapping? In simple terms, it's the visual representation of the steps […]
When launching continuous improvement initiatives, programs or projects in higher education, understanding your stakeholders is crucial for success. A stakeholder analysis can help identify who will be affected by changes and how to engage them effectively throughout the process. In a fictitious example, consider a registrar's office implementing a new course registration system. Key stakeholders […]