Lean knowledgeLean knowledgeHow to enable students, How to enable students,

teachers and researchers to teachers and researchers to achieve more with lessachieve more with less

Paper to be presented at the Lean in Services and Paper to be presented at the Lean in Services and Higher Education Conference, Portsmouth, January Higher Education Conference, Portsmouth, January

20122012  

Michael Wood, University of Portsmouth Business Michael Wood, University of Portsmouth Business SchoolSchool

http://woodm.myweb.port.ac.uk/presentations.htmhttp://woodm.myweb.port.ac.uk/presentations.htm

http://woodm.myweb.port.ac.uk/LeanKinHE.pdfhttp://woodm.myweb.port.ac.uk/LeanKinHE.pdf

27 January 201227 January 2012

Lean in HE could be applied Lean in HE could be applied to:to:

• AdminAdmin

• Learning and teachingLearning and teaching

• ResearchResearch

• Conferences, publications, etcConferences, publications, etc

• Knowledge (the core product) Knowledge (the core product)

I’m not an expert on lean, but would like I’m not an expert on lean, but would like to share some thoughts on lean to share some thoughts on lean knowledge ..knowledge ..

11 Much knowledge is unnecessarily Much knowledge is unnecessarily complex ... so make a lean version …complex ... so make a lean version …

22 ExamplesExamples

33 Desired features of lean knowledge and Desired features of lean knowledge and suggested tactics for achieving themsuggested tactics for achieving them

44 Importance is Importance is – Saves time for students, teachers, researchersSaves time for students, teachers, researchers– And / or time saved could be used to practise and And / or time saved could be used to practise and

improve understandingimprove understanding– Enables faster progress (the growth of knowledge Enables faster progress (the growth of knowledge

will probably slow down or stop unless we get will probably slow down or stop unless we get better at cutting corners)better at cutting corners)

Examples where lean Examples where lean knowledge might be a good knowledge might be a good

ideaidea• Roman vs Arabic numerals. Roman vs Arabic numerals. (pi?)(pi?)

• Lengthy and extensively referenced Lengthy and extensively referenced statements of the obviousstatements of the obvious

• Six sigma (like Six sigma (like ee i iππ +1 ?)+1 ?)

• P P values or confidence levelsvalues or confidence levels

• Positivism in research Positivism in research

Many more examples but the fat Many more examples but the fat versions need a lot of explanation!versions need a lot of explanation!

Process sigma – the Process sigma – the measurement linked to the Six measurement linked to the Six Sigma philosophySigma philosophy• The process sigma for this process is 4.833The process sigma for this process is 4.833• What on earth does this mean?What on earth does this mean?• It means there are 430 dpmo (defects per million It means there are 430 dpmo (defects per million

opportunities). Use this Sigma calculatoropportunities). Use this Sigma calculator• So why not just say 430 dpmo? Keep it simple!So why not just say 430 dpmo? Keep it simple!• But this would be dumbing down. Life is difficult But this would be dumbing down. Life is difficult

and we mustn’t join the modern trend of trying to and we mustn’t join the modern trend of trying to make it easier.make it easier.

• Why not?Why not? The complicated version adds nothing The complicated version adds nothing except confusing the uninitiated. (Similar except confusing the uninitiated. (Similar comments apply to Ccomments apply to Cpkpk.).)

• ... which must be a good thing!... which must be a good thing!

P P values and confidence values and confidence levelslevels

• ““Life expectancy was 3.9 years longer for Life expectancy was 3.9 years longer for Academy Award [Oscar] winners than for Academy Award [Oscar] winners than for other, less recognized performers (79.7 vs other, less recognized performers (79.7 vs 75.8 years; 75.8 years; PP = 0.003 = 0.003)” )” (Redelmeier (Redelmeier and Singh, 2001: 955).and Singh, 2001: 955).

Or …Or …

• The data suggests that Oscar winners have The data suggests that Oscar winners have a greater life expectancy with a a greater life expectancy with a confidence level of 99.85%confidence level of 99.85%..

Positivism in researchPositivism in research

““There are two main approaches to research: There are two main approaches to research: positivism and social constructivism. Positivist positivism and social constructivism. Positivist research is objective, quantitative, deductive research is objective, quantitative, deductive and uses formal hypotheses to establish general and uses formal hypotheses to establish general truths. Social constructivism is subjective .... etc, truths. Social constructivism is subjective .... etc, etc .… The approach in this research will be etc .… The approach in this research will be positivist ….”positivist ….”

But this dichotomy is not really a dichotomy , and But this dichotomy is not really a dichotomy , and it complicates, confuses and restricts the it complicates, confuses and restricts the argument unnecessarily ...argument unnecessarily ...

Why not simply say ...Why not simply say ...

““In this research I want to establish the general In this research I want to establish the general view among the population, so I will use random view among the population, so I will use random sampling and statistical methods to achieve this.”sampling and statistical methods to achieve this.”

or something along these lines. Only bother with or something along these lines. Only bother with more general frameworks if these really help, more general frameworks if these really help, which they often don’t.which they often don’t.

Desired features of lean Desired features of lean knowledgeknowledge

• Research papers, textbooks etc to Research papers, textbooks etc to – be short, readable and easy to understandbe short, readable and easy to understand– require little pre-requisite knowledgerequire little pre-requisite knowledge

• Knowledge to beKnowledge to be– powerful, reliable and fit for purposepowerful, reliable and fit for purpose– quick and easy to use – consider power/hassle quick and easy to use – consider power/hassle

quotientquotient

Obviously limits to what’s possible, but the Obviously limits to what’s possible, but the lean aims don’t seem to be on the agendalean aims don’t seem to be on the agenda

Conceptual reengineeringConceptual reengineering: : using more appropriate using more appropriate concepts.concepts.

Ignoring historyIgnoring history: : learning an academic discipline often involves learning an academic discipline often involves retracing the tortuous route by which it was developed, which may retracing the tortuous route by which it was developed, which may be a waste of time and effort. References should be lean.be a waste of time and effort. References should be lean.

Shallow hierarchiesShallow hierarchies: : understanding something typically understanding something typically involves mastering a hierarchy of pre-requisite concepts – the involves mastering a hierarchy of pre-requisite concepts – the simpler this hierarchy is the better.simpler this hierarchy is the better.

Minimum valueMinimum value: : some things make too little contribution to be some things make too little contribution to be worth bothering with.worth bothering with.

Using aids for processing and memoryUsing aids for processing and memory: : the use of the the use of the web and computer applications make much learning redundant.web and computer applications make much learning redundant.

Just-in-time learningJust-in-time learning: : life is too short and things are changing life is too short and things are changing too fast to justify learning lots of things too fast to justify learning lots of things just in casejust in case they are they are needed – better to learn what we need when we need it. needed – better to learn what we need when we need it.

Plus two more in the abstractPlus two more in the abstract

How to make knowledge leaner …How to make knowledge leaner …

In summaryIn summary

• People’s time, energy and patience is People’s time, energy and patience is limited limited (Simon (1996) suggests that typical professionals (Simon (1996) suggests that typical professionals have ten years to learn their trade and can absorb between have ten years to learn their trade and can absorb between 50,000 and 1.8 million “chunks” of information.)50,000 and 1.8 million “chunks” of information.)

• Therefore knowledge should be quick Therefore knowledge should be quick and easy to learn and / or use and easy to learn and / or use

• Then we could achieve more, or save Then we could achieve more, or save timetime

• The core product of universities is The core product of universities is knowledge: I think this needs to become knowledge: I think this needs to become leaner if universities are to be useful in leaner if universities are to be useful in the futurethe future

ChallengeChallenge

Choose an area of knowledge or expertiseChoose an area of knowledge or expertise

• Can you make a leaner version?Can you make a leaner version?

• E.g.E.g.

• Lean theory itself Lean theory itself

• ..........

References and articles on a References and articles on a similar themesimilar theme

• Redelmeier, D. A., & Singh, S. M. (2001). Survival in Academy Award-Redelmeier, D. A., & Singh, S. M. (2001). Survival in Academy Award-winning actors and actresses. winning actors and actresses. Annals of Internal Medicine, 134Annals of Internal Medicine, 134, 955-962., 955-962.

• Simon, H. A. (1996). Simon, H. A. (1996). The sciences of the artificial.The sciences of the artificial. Cambridge, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.Massachusetts: MIT Press.

• Wood, M., Capon, N., & Kaye, M. (1998). User-friendly statistical concepts Wood, M., Capon, N., & Kaye, M. (1998). User-friendly statistical concepts for process monitoring. for process monitoring. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 49Journal of the Operational Research Society, 49(9), (9), 976-985.976-985.

• Wood, M. (2002). Wood, M. (2002). Maths should not be hard: the case for making academic Maths should not be hard: the case for making academic knowledge more palatableknowledge more palatable Higher Education Review, 34 Higher Education Review, 34(3), 3-19. (3), 3-19.

• Wood, M. (2002, August 30). I'll make it simple. Wood, M. (2002, August 30). I'll make it simple. Times Higher Education.Times Higher Education.

• Wood, M. (2012). Why can’t measurements based on mathematical Wood, M. (2012). Why can’t measurements based on mathematical models be more user-friendly? Problems, causes and suggestions. models be more user-friendly? Problems, causes and suggestions. Draft on Draft on SSRNSSRN