Best Practices in Laboratory Management

Day 1

Managing Operations and Processes

• Laboratory managers need to understand what the laboratory is trying to achieve. This means developing a clear vision of how the laboratory should help the organisation to achieve its long-term goals. It includes translating the organisation’s goals into implications for the laboratory’s performance objectives, which are quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost. This chapter provides a critical understanding of laboratory operations and processes, contextualising these within a laboratory's business strategy, to realise performance objectives.

Day 2

Managing Teams in the Laboratory

• Managing a group of people requires specific skills and competencies. There are general guidelines for keeping team members motivated and working effectively, regardless of the size of your team. These range from communication and feedback, to setting specific rules and standards of behaviour.

Day 3

Leadership and Change Management

• This chapter describes the skills and competencies involved in leading a group of people, creating a vision and setting direction for the laboratory. The ability to lead a team effectively is not automatically obtained in line with seniority, but is a learned skill. As laboratory leaders seek to manage employees effectively through technology, process, organisational or regulatory changes, it is important to understand how change affects human behaviour and engagement. Developing strategic skills for leading and implementing change is also covered

Day 4

Managing Finances

• The financial performance of a laboratory ultimately determines the sustainability of its operations. Every stakeholder has the responsibility to add value to the bottom line of the organisation. To do this, an elementary understanding of financial management and related financial statements is required, at a minimum. On completion of this chapter, the reader will be able not only to interpret and report on their laboratory’s financials, but also plan for its future profitability.

Day 5

Managing Quality in the Laboratory

• Quality is a product of laboratory operations. Laboratories invest enormous amounts of money to fuel and drive their operational processes. Cost-effective and qualitative management is therefore crucial. A well functioning quality management system encapsulates various elements: from relevant documentation to support laboratory processes and management of equipment and inventory, to controlling analytical processes and continuous improvement tools. This chapter focuses on these elements among others, with consideration of ISO 15189, and provides a holistic view on how to address these factors in achieving the laboratory’s performance objectives.