By Jeannine Francis-Brown
In her Fall 2025 State of the University Address, President Dr. Safiya George highlighted Lean Management as a new way of approaching work that will be central to building momentum toward a Grand UVI. She emphasized that embracing continuous improvement and operational excellence is critical to strengthening the University’s future.
As President George noted, Lean Management is more than a set of tools — it is a mindset. At its core, it is a people-centered, fact-based system for continuous improvement.
This Fall, UVI will begin piloting Lean Management training with the Information Services (IT) Department, led by Vice President Sharlene Harris. The pilot will test the training workshop, gather valuable feedback, and refine the program before expanding it across the University community.
What is Lean Management?
As described by Dr. Pizarro, Lean Management is a proven, people-centered approach that focuses on eliminating waste, solving problems at the root, and empowering people to improve processes every day. At UVI, Lean offers a practical way to enhance performance by helping teams identify inefficiencies, streamline workflows, and direct resources toward what truly matters—supporting students, faculty, and the broader community.
Rather than relying on top-down directives, Lean builds capacity across all levels of the institution. Faculty, staff, and administrators are encouraged to experiment with minor changes, test solutions, and measure results. This approach cultivates a culture of problem-solving, accountability, and innovation that aligns with UVI’s vision of becoming a model for excellence in higher education and regional economic development.
Lean also emphasizes direct observation and dialogue, encouraging leaders and teams to go to the source of the work to better understand challenges and avoid misinterpretations. Equally important, it focuses on developing people—not just fixing processes, equipping individuals to think critically, solve problems at the root, and continuously improve over time.
By clarifying workflows, aligning daily actions with broader goals, and using simple visual tools and feedback loops, Lean creates a shared culture of learning where improvement is everyone’s responsibility.
Dr. Pizarro reflected:
“Lean Management provides UVI with a proven framework to transform how we work together. By focusing on facts, eliminating waste, and engaging every member of our community in problem-solving, we can strengthen institutional performance and free up resources to better serve our students and the Virgin Islands. Lean is not just about efficiency—it is about creating a culture of continuous improvement and innovation that will prepare UVI for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
