Innovation Challenge brings F&S teams together to make positive change
Last month, Facilities & Services launched an innovation challenge—an initiative to engage F&S teams on making positive change on campus—both big and small.
“The Innovation Challenge gives us a great opportunity to implement and celebrate staff ideas that help us create a better workplace and maintain a world-class university campus,” says Ron Saporta, chief operating officer, property services and sustainability.
The initiative challenges staff to briefly pause from day-to-day priorities to have collaborative and creative discussions with their teams and submit ideas aimed at advancing the 2019-24 F&S strategic priorities:
• leadership in campus stewardship,
• superior customer service,
• innovative technology,
• impactful sustainability, and
• making F&S a great place to work.
This is not the first time F&S staff have come together for an innovation challenge.
How it started
In 2019, staff submitted dozens of ideas, many of which were implemented.
The autotransformers pilot project is just one example that originated through F&S’s Innovation Challenge. Keith Foster, manager of electrical systems at F&S, submitted a proposal for increased utility metering that now reduces 9.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.
“I think participating in the initiative is important because it allows you to step outside of the operational challenges that you face on a day-to-day basis,” Foster shares. “It really forces you to think outside the box and talk to your coworkers about potential positive changes.”
Foster says that the Innovation Challenge is a great initiative to receive exposure for an idea. He encourages everyone to participate “because the best ideas always come from those who deal with these issues daily.”
Another idea that came from the 2019 challenge and was successfully implemented is the deployment of electric utility vehicles—eGators, which are small all-terrain utility vehicles with a box bed, similar in function to a pickup truck.
Submitted by the Grounds Services staff, the idea proposed replacing four diesel vehicles with battery-powered units that do not emit greenhouse gases, produce no exhaust fumes, are exceptionally quiet, and are much more cost-effective to operate.
How it’s going
More than 20 ideas have been submitted across F&S in the first month of the challenge in 2023.
Ideas range from creating satellite storage for equipment and tools, to increasing access to multifaith rooms for F&S staff, and introducing portable solar powered generators to supply power at outdoor events available for students, staff, and faculty to use.
This year, F&S teams are using physical idea boards to help them visualize and prioritize their ideas. Many have seized the opportunity to actively get together as a team to discuss and re-imagine how a process might be improved or what would enhance their work environment. The colourfully filled boards are a testament to how innovative ideas bloom at F&S from a seed to execution.
“Our intention is to implement as many as we possibly can—as many as are feasible,” Saporta says. “From technology upgrades to process improvements and enhancing our workspaces, there’s no idea that’s too big or too small.”
Submissions will be accepted from F&S team members until Thursday, April 6.