Back Office & Processing operations are becoming a bigger focus within our industry. These videos offer practical knowledge and examples for specialist teams, as well as key tips and guidelines for analysts, planners or managers looking to understand more, or curate knowledge in their own area of specialism.
Watch this series at your own pace, taking time to go back and review. Start with the Module 1a then take a look at two of the videos in the Best Practice Showcase, to see some practical examples, before moving on to the other learning modules. You can pause at key points, to give time for reflection. As you complete each module write down a few bullets about what you found most interesting and how this could apply in your work. Then, at the end, get your manager to sign off that you have been applying learning and email us to gain your Professional Accreditation Certificate as a Foundation Professional.
Modules
1: Introduction to the series (15 mins)
This module introduces the series, by describing the methods we are teaching and the type of work they apply to. We look at what makes these kinds of operations different from a contact centre and at the growing demand for our skills in these areas, with self-service and digital channels as well as more focus on planning in the back office.
2: How to get started (26 mins)
We look at the 5 skills you need and why this is different from what we often experience as back-office planners. We discuss common problems and how to avoid them. Then we share ideas from two best practice frameworks that can help you focus on how to get started.
3: Capacity Planning (18 mins)
In this module we want to look at the fundamentals of capacity planning for back office and digital. What makes it different from contact centres? What are the key inputs you need to be tracking and forecasting? Explore the importance of setting work priorities and allocation rules.
4: Data preparation & analysis (23 mins)
Look at how to prepare your data for resource planning and operational management, with examples from recent students on our Assisted Learning Pathways and insight from the workflow team Legal & General. See what you need to do when you start planning in these areas for the first time.
5: How to create accurate unit times (20 mins)
We will look at the importance of getting the handling time correct, how we get this data and ensure it is accurate. Graham Watson at Capita demonstrates how to calculate these and the team at L&G share experiences on how accurate times have been a game-changer in their operations.
6: Shrinkage planning (12 mins)
In this module we learn about shrinkage in processing and digital operations. What is similar and different from the front office? Why do you need to have sight of 100%? Where do you get the data from and how do you clean it up to ensure its accuracy?
7: Work allocation and priorities (Part A & B)
We examine how to manage work in progress, in the context of service expectations for the end-to-end process and the skills available, so as to forecast where queues may get out of control and what work needs prioritising for which people. Explore this both tactically and strategically and learn to build predictive dashboards and performance playbooks.
8: Predictive analysis and modelling(27 mins)
In this module we invite you to open up some spreadsheet planning models and work with them interactively, to explore how you can optimise your resource allocation and skills mix to achieve better service by using resource in different ways. Download the three spreadsheet models here:
- Monthly Operating plan Download
- Weekly Operating Plan Download
- Daily Operating Plan Download
- We end by focussing on what is most important
Other Box sets
The following are some box sets that we recommend you watch during your pathway.
Learning From Best Practice
These final modules show how different members of our Back Office & Processing Operations Network Group have put these principles into practice in their own operations. Many thanks to the members who have shared their learning with us. Before you apply for your accreditation we expect you to have watched at least two of them.