Standardizing processes in education – A Uruguayan case study

Abstract

This research is an examination based on the activity of a Uruguayan academy that faced severe scalability issues back in 2018. The aim of the research is to identify key barriers and obstacles the institute had to overcome in order to resolve the expandability issue. Besides, the objective is to ascertain which data-based decision-making methods worked best to achieve the positive results. Special emphasis is placed on analyzing a data-dependent index, proposed by the founder and CEO of the organization, as an answer to mitigate the problem. The methods of the research are a case study analysis, with bibliography comparison from similar cases and organizational and managerial theory as the core elements to further understand this specific case, followed by a questionnaire filled by the institute’s current employees to understand qualitative and quantitative aspects of the theory proposed in the first chapters of analysis. The theoretical findings reveal the importance of seamlessly combining managerial decisions with real-time data as a practice to benefit both the end user and organization alike. The questionnaire addressed employees’ views on key obstacles, gaps and barriers to understanding massive amounts of data and which KPIs should be considered when trying to enhance the end user experience in educational organizations. The research found that the academy faced the initial scalability problem due to lack of correct data understanding and usage. The findings suggest furthermore that the institute benefited greatly from applying horizontal ways of working, in which every employee could participate more in overall decisions regarding the near future direction of the institute. Moreover, it was also benefited since employees began holding more ownership for weekly KPI optimization to reach short term goals.