Operational Excellence in Schools: A Year of Progress & What’s Next

Mar 18, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Stephen Morales, Chief Executive of the Institute of School Business Leadership, shares his expertise on applying operational excellence principles to education. He explores recent strides in maximizing resources and improving student outcomes. Topics include innovative training methods like LEGO exercises to enhance teamwork, the dynamics of leadership, and the importance of stakeholder engagement in driving efficiency. Morales also examines systemic challenges and the future of operational excellence in schools.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 2min

Enhancing Operational Excellence in Education

01:37 • 10min

Transformative Training: Building Teams through LEGO and Operational Excellence

11:17 • 3min

Dynamics of Leadership in Group Settings

14:01 • 2min

Optimizing Educational Outcomes Through Stakeholder Engagement

16:30 • 2min

Challenging Norms in Education

18:48 • 15min

Operational Excellence in Education

33:34 • 7min

Operational excellence has transformed industries like manufacturing and healthcare, but what about education? Can schools apply these same principles to streamline operations, maximize resources, and improve student outcomes?

In this follow-up conversation, I reconnect with Stephen Morales, Chief Executive of the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) in the UK, to revisit our discussion on Operational Excellence (OPEX) in schools and explore how the movement has evolved over the past year.

We dive into the progress that’s been made since our last conversation, how schools and districts are responding to OPEX, and the biggest challenges in implementing these strategies. Stephen also shares insights into how early adopters are embedding OPEX into their strategic plans, what measurable impacts are emerging, and what’s next for expanding this approach internationally.

If you’re looking for ways to improve efficiency, eliminate wasted effort, and foster a more strategic, data-driven approach to school business operations, this episode is a must-listen.

Contact School Business Insider:

Check us out on social media:
- LinkedIn
- Twitter (X)
Website: https://asbointl.org/SBI
Email: podcast@asbointl.org

Make sure to like, subscribe and share for more great insider episodes!

Disclaimer:

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Association of School Business Officials International. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "ASBO International" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. The presence of any advertising does not endorse, or imply endorsement of, any products or services by ASBO International.

ASBO International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and does not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. The sharing of news or information concerning public policy issues or political campaigns and candidates are not, and should not be construed as, endorsements by ASBO Internatio...