The five steps to improve efficiency

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Produced in partnership with Beth Pipe FCIPD of OnLive Learning
Practice notes

The five steps to improve efficiency

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Produced in partnership with Beth Pipe FCIPD of OnLive Learning

Practice notes
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This Practice Note sets out a simple five-step improving efficiency framework and illustrates how it works by way of a case study involving client complaints.

The five steps

The five steps in this improving efficiency framework are:

  1. •

    define (ie identify)

  2. •

    measure

  3. •

    analyse

  4. •

    improve

  5. •

    control

Management consultants often refer to this is as the DMAIC framework. It is an excellent framework to follow when you are trying to improve an existing process. It takes you through each element one step at a time and ensures you have considered the process from every angle.

What does each step involve?

The table below sets out each of the five steps and illustrates them by reference to a hypothetical scenario, ie 'we receive too many complaints'.

StepWhat does this step involve?Why it's important
Define (identify)Identify what the issue or problem is. The scope of the problem needs to be defined and the symptoms stated clearly and succinctly.The problem may not be cast in stone at this
Beth Pipe
Beth Pipe, FCIPD

Learning & Development Specialist/Director, OnLive Learning

Beth is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) and has spent over 25 years specialising in Learning and Development. During that time she has worked across a broad variety of different industries and has, for the past 15 years, worked closely with a number of well known law firms; this has involved putting in to place systems and structures to encourage, enable and track the effectiveness of learning activities. 

Adept at face to face course delivery, and always enjoying excellent feedback, Beth is also accomplished at online delivery and created OnLive Learning in response to the challenges presented by the 2020 Covid-19 restrictions.

Beth has written extensively for LexisNexis on subjects such as Performance Management, Managing Change and Stress Management.

Away from her training delivery she is a published author writing about local history, hiking, wildlife and the outdoors and is currently working on her eleventh book. She is also an experienced radio presenter hosting two shows each week on Lake District Radio.

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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Key definition:
Efficiency definition
What does Efficiency mean?

The relationship between the outputs from a service and the resources used to produce them; in the public sector, it involves making best use of the resources available for the provision of public services.

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