Challenge
Critical laboratory management skills needed.
Lancet required a training course to address the challenge of ensuring that there are people in their ranks willing and able to be effective managers.
Approach
Solve the challenge from a process perspective.
Lancet enrolled their staff in the Laboratory Management in Practice program, which is developed and facilitated by experienced laboratory professionals.
Results
Technical staff that are confident to manage.
The program developed future laboratory leaders that are able and significantly more confident and willing to take on the task of management.
“I have recommended the Laboratory Management in Practice course already and it should be rolled out to other junior managers to allow us to groom future leaders for the laboratory.”
— Vasu Gounden, Lancet Laboratories
CONTEXT
Lancet is one of the largest private pathology providers on the African continent.
The group relies on their laboratory managers to be capable and confident in their execution, yet they often find that people in the management role find the position intimidating or even prefer to step down from it. Lancet enrolled their staff in the Laboratory Management in Practice program, which is developed and facilitated by experienced laboratory professionals. The feedback from the Lancet team was that the course was highly relevant to the industry. They felt that the course was worthwhile and effective in developing confident laboratory managers. Participants also said the course would provide immediate and long-term value to the laboratory.
“Laboratory staff in a management role often find the position intimidating or even prefer to step down from it.”
– Vasu Gounden, Lancet Laboratories
THE APPROACH
The Laboratory Management in Practice course develops the capabilities required to become part of laboratory management. From practical knowledge about key management topics to the soft skills required to take confident action, all topics are covered in detail in the laboratory context.
Lancet’s experience of the Laboratory Management in Practice course
A management program that is uniquely relevant.
The program covers all facets of management, in the unique laboratory context. It has been developed by experienced laboratory specialists and handles case studies and activities tailored to the laboratory’s unique needs.
The program develops laboratory managers that have the confidence to act.
The course makes management disciplines tangible to staff that are generally in technical positions, with laboratory-specific case studies that put management into practice. Course activities are done with peers in a classroom setting and includes facilitation and support provided by highly experienced laboratory professionals.
The result? Immediate and long term value to the laboratory.
The course encourages real world application from the first day. Blended learning (classroom and online) allows for less time spent off the job and immediate application of new skills. The content and approach is future-proof, with an acute understanding of the rapidly changing laboratory context globally.
THE RESULT
Central to Lancet’s return on investment was proactive development of laboratory managers that are able and significantly more confident and willing to take on the task of management.
Improvements in quality, turnaround time and cost management
Lancet’s staff who graduated from the course now benefit a big-picture understanding of how to manage laboratory resources, ensuring that quality, turnaround time and cost management targets are met.
Holistic picture of the current and long term needs of the laboratory
Graduates reported to being more engaged in the current needs of the laboratory and invested in their own career progression.
Motivation and self-assuredness
Program graduates also noted that they are self-assured and motivated to be recognised as part of the laboratory’s group of future leaders.
What course graduates say:
“The fact that the facilitator came from a laboratory background and spoke our language was valuable.”
“The training material was very relevant to work within the laboratory environment.”
“The literature and training was valid for my working environment.”
“I was able to work and learn at my own pace.”