What Are Work Improvement Teams (WITs) – And Why Every Organisation Should Have Them

The Silent Engines of Productivity

In a world of constant change, organisations that thrive aren’t always those with visionary leadership or cutting-edge tools — they are the ones that empower their people to solve problems on the ground.

Singapore’s productivity journey has shown that one of the most effective tools for continuous improvement is the Work Improvement Team (WIT). These teams have quietly but powerfully transformed the way both public and private sector organisations streamline their operations, improve service delivery and drive innovation from within.

What Exactly Are WITs?

Work Improvement Teams (WITs) are small, cross-functional groups of employees who are typically from the same or related work areas, gathered together voluntarily to identify the inefficiencies in their work environment, analyse root causes and implement improvements together. 

They're different from top-down taskforces. WITs are bottom-up, meaning ideas come from those who understand the work best—your staff on the ground. This team-based approach to problem-solving enables organisations to harness collective insights and encourage innovation at all levels.

How Do WITs Work in Practice?

WITs typically follow a simple, structured but powerful improvement cycle, inspired by the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) model:

1. Identify a problem - e.g. frequent delays in last mile delivery

2. Analyse root causes (e.g., using 5 Whys or Fishbone Diagrams)

3. Develop solutions - brainstorm practical and cost-effective interventions

4. Implement & test - roll out a small scale trial

5. Evaluate & standardise what works - measure results and incorporate successful changes into daily operations

Example to illustrate:

A WIT in a corporate office tackles repeated errors in internal document handovers by mapping out the workflow, identifying bottlenecks, proposing a revised document template and automated forms, leading to faster and accurate completion of task.

Why Your Organisation Needs WITs

The positive impact of WITs go beyond cost savings or time reductions. Organisations that implement WITs will often see:

• Improved efficiency and reduced waste

• Higher employee morale as staff feel heard and valued when their opinions are taken

• Skill development for staff in building leadership, communication and problem-solving

• A corporate culture of continuous improvement as they build habits of observation, questioning and experimentation of solutions.

✨ When employees are empowered to fix what frustrates them, they become natural advocates for change - and that drives sustainable productivity from within.

How to Start a WIT in Your Organisation

Starting a WIT does not require a big team or budget — however, it starts with strong intent and a few key enablers.

1. Leadership buy-in and support are crucial. It legitimises WITs and allocates time and resources to begin.

2. Form a team of 4 to 8 people who share a process or workflow

3. Equip the team with basic productivity and problem-solving tools

4. Fix regular, structured time for WIT meetings

5. Recognise contributions and celebrate wins across the organisations, no matter how small the improvement may be.

   
   

After initial success with WIT, you may want to consider integrating WIT outcomes into broader KPIs or recognition programmes. Giving WITs access to mentors or professionals in process improvement can also help new teams to overcome initial challenges.

🎯 Pro Tip: Start with one pilot team and scale from there.

Conclusion: Small Teams. Big Change.

WITs are proof that you don’t need grand strategies to drive real impact. You may start small, but the effect of their change can be transformative. By enabling teams to identify and act on areas for improvement, you create a workforce that’s engaged, agile and collaborative. 

🫱🏼‍🫲🏼 “It’s not about working harder. It’s about working smarter—together.”