2.1.7 Phase 7: Continuous Improvement

Basics

Many IT Departments engage in a cycle of continuous improvement that involves reviewing the deployment process and outcomes to identify areas for improvement. Managing the deployment process is part of a larger cycle of continuous improvement that IT Departments should routinely engage in to keep their systems up and running and to find ways to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. 

You should know the following terms:

  • Continuous improvement

Technology tools and systems change rapidly, and no department can risk not monitoring their work and seeking ways to improve it. There are many established continuous improvement models your department may adopt or adapt to support their work. Regardless of the model used, it will often include regular review meetings and analysis sessions, often monthly or quarterly, to ensure ongoing improvements and optimizations. IT Directors generally lead this phase, with input from System Administrators and Level 1 Technicians. 

Some of the tasks Level 1 Technicians may be asked to complete to support decision making in the review meetings include:

  • Provide feedback and suggestions during post-deployment reviews;

  • Engage in training sessions to improve skills and stay updated on new technologies;

  • Maintain detailed documentation of the entire deployment process, including configurations, settings, and any issues encountered;

  • Document changes made during deployment for future reference; and

  • Update user manuals and system documentation as needed.

By understanding these seven phases and your role within them in your department, you can better navigate and support the software deployment process in your school district effectively.

Complete the following task or self-assessment:

Find out what type of continuous improvement model or process your IT Department follows. It may be an established model or it could be a process that draws from different models. If it is an established model, you are likely to find further information about it online or through formal or informal training opportunities.

While you will not likely be leading the continuous improvement process, everyone in your organization should play some role in the generating and reviewing of data and considering the impact of decisions made upon their work. You may simply provide data to the process through routine documentation during software deployment. When a new process is developed as a result of the continuous improvement cycle or a new tool is purchased to support software deployment, you should know how this will impact your work.