Lean Management and Organization Performance in the Educational Sector, a Study of Selected Institutions in Nigeria

Abstract: This research investigates how lean management influences organisational performance within the educational sector, focusing on three prominent institutions: the University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and Inspire Polytechnic. Implementing lean management principles and techniques has enabled organisations to be more purposeful in delivering goods and services while also minimizing waste. Although lean management originated in the manufacturing industry, there is a wealth of research regarding its application in the service sector. A survey research design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire comprising 25 questions as the method of data collection. With a population of 2,243, selecting them from the final year students of each institutions, a total of 743 questionnaires were distributed, with 722 being completed and returned. The participants included both students and staff from these institutions. Furthermore, ordinal logistic regression was employed to analyze the data, and the ordinal regression model tested the hypotheses. Ethical standards, including voluntary participation, confidentiality, thorough briefing, privacy, and safeguarding against harm, were rigorously followed. The findings indicated that the implementation of Value Stream Mapping positively and significantly influences the performance of the institutions. Additionally, it was found that waste reduction has a notable effect on organizational performance. Therefore, it is essential for organizations to manage waste effectively. A key finding was that students expressed concerns about the lengthy wait times for administrative assistance. The researcher also suggested that organizations, particularly in the education sector, should identify the areas within their operations that provide value to the institution and concentrate on them. Furthermore, the time students have to wait should be minimized, and the unnecessary consumption of material resources should be limited.