Exploring the Adaptation and Implementation of Lean Practices into HE Collaborative Partnerships Information Flow Processes: Readiness for Change, Capabilities and Data Integrity of UK Universities.

Gilbert, Martin (2026) Exploring the Adaptation and Implementation of Lean Practices into HE Collaborative Partnerships Information Flow Processes: Readiness for Change, Capabilities and Data Integrity of UK Universities. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham City University.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates the potential application of Lean principles, specifically the philosophy of Kaizen, to enhance information exchange within Higher Education (HE) collaborative partnerships. Drawing upon extensive professional experience in both manufacturing and Higher Education, the research is informed by the recognition that while Lean methodologies have been widely adopted in manufacturing and increasingly within service sectors such as healthcare, their application to collaborative partnership management in Higher Education remains limited. The study therefore seeks to address this gap by exploring the feasibility and value of adopting a Lean approach to information exchange between universities and their collaborative partners.

A qualitative, grounded research strategy was employed using a cross-sectional design. Primary data were collected at three distinct stages through an informal focus group, an online questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews involving participants from Higher Education institutions. Data were analysed using thematic analysis supported by NVivo software and an iterative coding process, enabling the identification of key themes relating to organisational change, communication practices, and process improvement.

The findings demonstrate that although initial expectations centred on assessing institutional readiness for Lean implementation, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered the research context. The rapid transition from face-to-face to online teaching across Higher Education institutions provided compelling evidence of the sector's capacity for large-scale organisational change when driven by necessity. This experience challenged traditional perceptions of resistance to change and revealed an increased recognition among academic and professional staff of the efficiencies and opportunities afforded by revised processes and digital methods of information exchange.

Building upon these findings, the research proposes a conceptual model for Lean information exchange within Higher Education collaborative partnerships. The model, evaluated throughout the study, provides a framework for improving communication, enhancing operational efficiency, and supporting sustainable partnership management. This thesis contributes to knowledge by extending the application of Lean and Kaizen principles to an underexplored area of Higher Education practice and by demonstrating how reactive organisational change can create conditions for longer-term process improvement and innovation within collaborative partnership environments.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:	Date Event 12 August 2026 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Adaptation and implementation of lean principles, HE collaborative partnerships, information flow processes, readiness for change
Subjects:	CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-01 - business and management (non-specific) CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-02 - business studies CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-04 - management studies
Divisions:	Business School > Management, Business and Marketing Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection
Depositing User:	Louise Muldowney
Date Deposited:	15 Sep 2026 11:10
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2026 11:10
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/17240

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