Why Higher Education Needs Lean Thinking More Than Ever

Every Higher Ed Institution Should Be Looking at Lean

Growing up, I was introduced to Lean methodology early. My dad worked at General Electric, a company that lived and breathed continuous improvement. I remember watching him earn new certifications and talk about projects focused on eliminating waste and streamlining processes.

The idea that everything can be improved was part of his everyday work life.

Fast forward to my own career in higher education, and I noticed something different. Every office I worked in wanted to improve, but the default approach was to add something new. Such as, a new initiative, a new process, a new committee, rather than taking something away. Higher ed has a deep culture of care, and that often makes it hard to remove processes that once helped someone, even if they’ve outlived their usefulness.

But what if we embraced Lean methodology as part of how we operate in higher education?

Lean in Higher Education: A Shift Toward Efficiency and Purpose

Lean methodology isn’t just for manufacturing floors. It’s a mindset for any organization that wants to focus on value and eliminate waste. I recently came across a great article from Piedmont Technical College that outlined seven types of waste that every institution should reflect on:

• Confusion: How seamless is your admissions or registration process?

• Motion/Travel: How many offices do students need to visit to complete one task?

• Waiting: Do faculty office hours align with student schedules?

• Processing: How many manual steps or hand-offs slow down your processes?

• Inventory: Are you managing the right level of supplies, or overstocking unnecessarily?

• Defects: Are small errors quietly chipping away at the student experience?

• Overproduction: Are you producing too much in one area and not enough in another?

  
  

Each of these represents an opportunity to simplify, streamline, and improve, not just for efficiency’s sake, but to better serve students.

Why It Matters More Than Ever

Many institutions today are leaning heavily on technology as the solution to their challenges. And while technology absolutely plays a role, it’s not a silver bullet. If the underlying processes are inefficient or unclear, new systems can amplify those problems rather than solve them.

That’s why operational improvement must come before digital transformation. 

Trying to overhaul your HR, Finance, or Student system while also redesigning processes is a massive undertaking and most institutions simply don’t have the bandwidth to manage both effectively.

Legato’s Approach: Lean Thinking, Higher Ed Heart

At Legato Strategic Consulting, we help higher education institutions apply Lean principles to strengthen their operations before diving into major technology transitions. By identifying waste, clarifying workflows, and empowering teams to make informed changes, we help institutions achieve more impactful and sustainable results when it’s time to implement new systems.

If your institution is considering a large technology change, or just wants to operate more efficiently, we’d love to help.

Send us a message, and we’ll share a free e-book and video on how Lean principles can transform your campus operations.

For more insights like this, subscribe to our newsletter.