School Business Insider: Operational Excellence in Schools – A Year of Progress & What’s Next
Release Date: March 18, 2025
Host: John Brucato
Guest: Stephen Morales, Chief Executive of the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL), UK

1. Introduction to Operational Excellence (OPEX) in Education

In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato delves deep into the concept of Operational Excellence (OPEX) within the educational sector. Building upon a previous conversation from April 2024 with Stephen Morales, the podcast explores the evolution, challenges, successes, and future steps of integrating OPEX into school operations globally.

2. Recap of Last Year’s Discussion

John Brucato reminds listeners of his initial conversation with Stephen Morales, where they introduced OPEX as a strategic methodology aimed at streamlining school operations, maximizing resources, and enhancing student outcomes. The current episode serves as a follow-up to assess the progress made over the past year.

3. Defining Operational Excellence (OPEX)

Stephen Morales clarifies the distinction between being "operationally excellent" (small o, small e) and OPEX (capital O, capital E). While many schools exhibited glimpses of operational excellence, Morales emphasizes that OPEX is a methodology with a codified, intentional approach encompassing specific domains.

Stephen Morales [03:01]: "OPEX, capital O, capital E, is a methodology. It's a defined approach. It has specific domains."

He further explains that although schools were implementing parts of OPEX, there wasn't a unified, structured method guiding these efforts.

4. Current Progress in Implementing OPEX

Since the last discussion, Morales notes significant movement towards OPEX adoption, albeit with varying degrees of success. Surveys indicated that schools rated their OPEX implementation around a 3 out of 10, but Morales views this not as a setback but as a 7 out of 10 opportunity for improvement.

Stephen Morales [05:38]: "There’s a seven out of 10 space to be better."

He underscores that improving OPEX can lead to 20-30% capacity gains in operations, enabling schools to do more with less amid challenging fiscal environments.

5. Benefits of OPEX in Schools

Operational Excellence fosters a relentless pursuit of waste elimination and process optimization. Morales elaborates on how OPEX helps schools identify and eliminate invisible waste, streamline workflows, and enhance the quality of information and processes.

Stephen Morales [07:37]: "Now, we’re not making any claims that we’re going to see improvements in the classroom... but we are saying that getting the ingredients right... can create optimal conditions for teaching and learning."

By adopting OPEX, schools can create headroom to innovate, integrate new technologies, and ultimately improve educational outcomes.

6. Challenges in Implementing OPEX

Despite the potential benefits, Morales acknowledges several challenges:

• Cultural Resistance: Public education systems are traditionally slow to adopt new methodologies due to entrenched bureaucratic processes.

• Misalignment of Goals: There is often a disconnect between stakeholders (e.g., CEOs, CFOs, teachers) regarding the organization’s goals and values.

• Overabundance of Data and Technology: Excessive information and poorly implemented tech solutions can overwhelm staff, reducing efficiency instead of enhancing it.

Stephen Morales [09:32]: "You might see a load of stuff overloaded with data. Oh my goodness, it’s just red, amber, green everywhere. And what on earth does that even pretty mean?"

Additionally, the compliance-focused culture in education can sometimes trump effectiveness, making it challenging to prioritize OPEX initiatives.

7. Case Studies: Early Adopters and Success Stories

Morales shares examples of multi-academy trusts in the UK that have successfully integrated OPEX into their strategic plans. These organizations, managing substantial operations with numerous schools and staff, have embedded OPEX into their five-year strategies, leading to more coherent and aligned operational practices.

Stephen Morales [26:21]: "They have...taken OPEX and baked it into their school improvement plan, into their five-year strategy. So it is that important to them."

While it’s early to measure direct impacts on student outcomes, these organizations exhibit grown-up approaches to managing complex operations, providing a foundation for future improvements.

8. Cultural Impact of OPEX

Implementing OPEX necessitates a cultural shift within organizations. Morales discusses how OPEX encourages:

• Collaborative Leadership: Moving away from authoritarian styles towards more consensual and inclusive leadership.

• Alignment of Values: Ensuring that all levels of staff understand and align with the organization's goals and values.

• Continuous Improvement: Fostering an environment where staff are encouraged to never settle and constantly seek ways to enhance operations.

Stephen Morales [22:03]: "Good people, motivated people, people who feel valued... Commitment to continuous improvement."

Through these cultural changes, schools can break free from "going through the motions" and begin to operate more effectively and efficiently.

9. Future Directions and Next Steps

Looking ahead, Morales outlines several key initiatives:

• Training and Mobilization in the US: Collaborating with ASBO International to develop training programs tailored to the US educational landscape.

• Upskilling Facilitators: Developing a cadre of trained individuals who can facilitate OPEX implementation across various schools and districts.

• Expanding Cohorts: Continuing to run open cohorts in the UK and potentially establishing similar groups in the US to share success stories and strategies.

Stephen Morales [35:18]: "We would love to collaborate with ASBO International on the mobilization of a training program."

Morales expresses optimism about having tangible evidence of OPEX's impact within a year, including improved operational capacities and the initiation of similar journeys in the US.

10. Resources for Learning More About OPEX

For those interested in delving deeper into Operational Excellence, Morales directs listeners to the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) website.

Stephen Morales [38:48]: "Just go to isbl.org.uk, go to the Operational Excellence page, and you're invited to register for copies of the research... and the framework itself is set out there."

Listeners are encouraged to engage with the research materials, frameworks, and to initiate dialogues with ISBL for further guidance and support.

Conclusion

This episode of School Business Insider provides a comprehensive overview of the strides made in integrating Operational Excellence within the educational sector over the past year. Through insightful discussions, real-world examples, and forward-looking strategies, John Brucato and Stephen Morales illuminate the path towards more efficient, effective, and student-centered school operations. As schools continue to navigate fiscal challenges and operational complexities, OPEX stands out as a promising methodology to enhance overall performance and educational outcomes.

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