How do you stay on top of everything you need to know to do your job at UCOP?

By checking the UCOP website for current policies or procedures? Checking the online calendar or Link for upcoming classes, brown bags or other events?

Many of the ideas submitted to the UCOP Efficiency Review website suggest that, although we have a wealth of resources, we don’t always know the best place to go for up-to-date information. So the ER Working Group has scheduled the first of several focus groups, Staying Current @UCOP, for Thursday, Feb. 20.

If you’d like to participate, register through the UC Learning Center:

• Log in using your UCOP login and password.
• Using the Search box on the left, search for Staying Current, Efficiency or focus groups. Note that space will be limited.
• Click on the session, then click on the Register box and Submit.

From the more than 650 ideas that have been submitted, several broad themes have been identified that could benefit from additional staff input. In the coming months, one or two focus groups will be held each month to take a closer look at the ideas that fall under these themes, which will then be taken to UCOP leadership for prioritization and implementation.

Here’s how the focus groups will work:

Two volunteers will facilitate the discussions, and one member of the ER Working Group will serve as focus group “maverick” to bring the outcomes back to the working group. Participants will include both subject matter experts and non-experts, and groups will be kept small to assure that everyone’s voice can be heard.

A few of the other themes that have emerged from the ideas submitted include simplifying the travel reimbursement process (this effort is already under way), reducing paper use and implementing other sustainability efforts, streamlining approval processes and taking a more efficient approach to meetings and meeting spaces.

Several departments have already begun implementing ideas to increase their efficiency. For example, ITS is ending meetings 10 minutes early to allow staff time to travel to their next meeting.

Keep an eye out for more details on upcoming focus groups. And keep the ideas coming by going to the Efficiency Review website to submit yours.

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