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I. What is the topic of your action research?

 

This will be on the implementation of automation in Banner for financial aid staff. This will focus on how automating financial aid processes can improve efficiency, minimize errors, and enhance staff productivity.  With higher demands on financial aid offices, automation offers a solution to streamline repetitive tasks and free up staff time to service students.  Automation in higher education administrative functions can greatly reduce operational costs and improve service delivery (Greavu-Serban, 2015).

 

II. What is the purpose of your study?

 

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of automation in Banner on the financial aid office’s efficiency and accuracy.

 

• Identifying how automation can minimize time spent on repetitive manual processes.

 

• Assess the effect of automation on the accuracy of financial aid processing.

 

• Evaluate financial aid staff satisfaction and workload after the implementation.

 

• Provide insights to support the expansion of automation across financial aid and other departments.

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III. What is your research question?

 

How does implementing automation in Banner systems impact the efficiency and accuracy of financial aid processing for financial aid staff?

 

 

IV. What is your research design (Qualitative, Quantitative, or Mixed Methods)

 

I will be using the Mixed Methods Design.

 

     a.Why did you choose this design?

 

I chose this design because it will allow me to capture both personal experiences and statistical data. The quantitative data will help measure the impact of automation on processing times, accuracy rates, and efficiency standards. The qualitative data will help capture experiences, perceptions, and feedback from financial aid staff through surveys and interviews.  Combining these methods will provide validation to my findings and provide a perspective that blends both objective metrics and human experiences (Creswell & Creswell 2017).

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V. What data will you collect?

 

Quantitative data:

 

• Error rates in financial aid applications.

 

• Processing times before and after automation.

 

• Productivity measurements

 

Qualitative Data:

 

• Staff interviews on their participation with the automation process.

 

• Survey responses on staff satisfaction and workload.

 

• Discussions on challenges and benefits of automation.

 

 

VI. ​What types of measurement will you use?

 

Quantitative Measurements:

 

• Time Tracking: Measures the time taken to complete tasks before and after automation.

 

• Error rate tracking: Compare the recurrence of processing errors before and after automation.

 

• Productivity Tracking: Track the number of applications processed per staff member over a given period.

 

Qualitative Measurements:

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• Theme Identification: Find common patterns and themes in survey responses and interviews.

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• Survey Ratings: Use surveys to measure ease of use, staff satisfaction, and workload changes.

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​VII. What is the focus of your lit review?

 

Impact of automation on workplace productivity and efficiency

 

• Explore studies on how automation minimizes processing times and improves accuracy in financial aid services.

 

Financial Aid staff experiences and perceptions with automation

 

• Exploring research on staff satisfaction, workload, and job satisfaction post-automation.

 

Best practices in implementing automation in higher education

 

• Reviewing case studies of successful automation strategies in financial aid and administrative departments.

 

Change management strategies in automation adoption

 

• Explore the role of leadership, professional learning, and support systems to create a successful adoption of this technology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

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Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.

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Greavu-Serban, Valerica. (2015). Case study of administrative process automation in higher education institutions from Romania. CBU International Conference Proceedings. 3. 10.12955/cbup.v3.648.