Why did you join the VUture panel?
All VU employees received an invitation. I accepted because I wanted to help think about VU Amsterdam's change processes and make sure our department’s work became visible. I also wanted to know how improvement processes work within an organisation like VU Amsterdam.
What did you think of the meetings?
The meetings were interesting. There were good topics that were explained by guest speakers. We could then ask questions ourselves or engage in discussions on the topic.
At several meetings, we split into groups to discuss. This made it easy for me to provide my input. In these break-out sessions you hear the opinions and insights of others. Through the meetings, I came into contact with colleagues I would not normally meet during my work.
It was positive that the Executive Board was also regularly present. It gave me the impression that they really payed attention to VUture and the topics that were discussed.
Did you get a better idea of what VUture's ambition was and what steps were taken to achieve it?
The ambition to involve the VU community in improving VU Amsterdam is at least clear.
I hear positive sounds that the P10 reporting has been lifted in the planning and control cycle. That seems to really save work. The 'daily annoyances' working group gives a clear overview of which issues have been picked up and the corresponding status. The 'service delivery' working group reported that the service desks are now using a new telephone system so that desks can more easily communicate with each other.
This is a good start. As a VUture panel, we advised VUture's programme management to continue the improvement process especially now that we are well on our way.
Did you feel your input was heard?
I do have the impression that something was done with my input. Notes were made during discussions and taken on board.
By the way, I also submitted a minor daily annoyance. The paper bins for confidential documents don't fit properly in the cabinets so you always have to tug at the bins to get the paper in properly. At least this is the case in our corridor. In Planon, the status of the notification to better organise this minor daily annoyance for the entire VU Amsterdam is currently 'pending'.
What surprised you?
I found being a VUture panellist more fun and interesting than expected. I thought I would mainly have to listen, but the sessions were all interactive. This gave me the opportunity to exchange views with other people in a different environment. I also gained ideas to apply in my own work. One example is a Kan-ban board, where tasks within a process are visualised by means of post-its on a whiteboard, allowing, for example, for bottlenecks to be identified and workflows to be optimised. And I now have new colleagues in my network that I still talk to from time to time about other issues.
How do you look back on your participation in the panel?
I would definitely do it again. I'm even more likely to actively seek out opportunities like this now.
