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Slide graphic: "The View From Here" fireside chat title, yellow checkmark on blue-gray mountain background

Lean Pioneers: The View From Here

On June 24, more than 80 staff from across UC Davis came together for Lean Pioneers: The View From Here, a virtual fireside chat hosted by Administrative Innovation and Technology's Office of Business Transformation (OBT) and the Lean Ambassador Bench of the Lean Community of Practice. Nine Lean Pioneers, joined by three moderators, shared authentic stories of continuous improvement across the university. 

 Lean Pioneers: The View From Here 

Watch the recording of the June 24 fireside chat

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Lean Pioneer: Making the Invisible Visible in the VRA Process

What if the biggest improvement to a complex process wasn't changing the requirements—but making the work visible? Faced with a Vendor Risk Assessment (VRA) process that could be difficult to navigate, Naomi Silguero and the AdminIT team reimagined the customer experience through clearer communication, interactive process maps, and standardized guidance.

Lean Pioneer: Mapping the Problem No One Owned

What started as a frustrating email synchronization issue became a lesson in Lean problem solving. Through persistence, curiosity, and a commitment to understanding the full process, Valerie Orick connected the dots across teams and systems, turning a problem nobody fully owned into one that could finally be addressed.

Lean Pioneer: Turning Curiosity into Capability at CTSC

At the UC Davis Health Clinical and Translational Science Center, staff applied Lean tools to investigate and reduce clinical trial invoice denials, uncovering root causes like training gaps and unclear workflows. By mapping the process and engaging stakeholders, they implemented practical fixes such as clearer checklists and better system use. The effort shows how small, curiosity-driven actions can lead to meaningful, cross-team improvements.
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