‘At RINIS it is not about turning a profit, it’s all about quality’
Four business management students got involved in a ‘comakership’ project at RINIS over the past few months. On behalf of Windesheim University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool Windesheim), they probed the processes in place at the new RINIS Client & Innovation department.
Currently in the third year of their business management studies at Windesheim, they performed an assignment as one of several that have been entered by companies or organisations. Launching their project a few months ago, they are set to hand in an advisory report upon completion. Robin Kooter, Matthijs ten Klooster, Joost Slotboom and Mario Daman decided to take up an assignment put forward by RINIS. ‘Our study is mainly aimed at the world of business and commerce, not the government’, Matthijs explains. ‘The assignment certainly widened our horizon.’
Getting accustomed
‘It did take a while before I got accustomed to the fact that RINIS is in fact a foundation’, Robin goes on to add. ‘During my previous internship with a leasing company, it was all about the profits.’ At RINIS, there is no such thing as high-pressure sales targets, Joost fills in. ‘Non-profit organisations are not about reeling in x number of clients.’ Which makes an interesting change, Matthijs offers. ‘At RINIS it is not about turning a profit, it’s all about quality and excellence in the delivery of services.’
From left to right: Matthijs ten Klooster, Robin Kooter, Mario Daman en Joost Slotboom
Different assignment
Further to an online introductory meeting and a briefing, the assignment was slightly amended. Joost: ‘The focus of the original assignment was slightly different. In the talks that followed, it appeared that RINIS had set a new priority.’ Mario: ‘RINIS pursues innovation in its service delivery. During the talks we had with the people at RINIS, we found that some of the processes were open to optimisation. Which is when we came up with the suggestion that we should focus on the client process.’
Mapped out
The four students mapped out the goals and the current client process and subsequently spoke to RINIS staff and an expert from Nyenrode Business University. They then went on to translate the combined insights gleaned into a redesigned process. Which is the topic of the conversations they are now having with people at INIS.
A chat
‘We really enjoyed working at RINIS,’ Joost says. ‘RINIS runs short hierarchical lines. There’s no problem if you call round to someone’s office unannounced, even if it is in the virtual realm. Everyone is happy to make time for a chat and we get a lot of appreciation for what we’re doing.’ ‘Getting to find out more about e-government was another interesting element’, Matthijs says. ‘I learned a lot about data sharing and the way this works in the background.’ Robin is excited about future developments: ‘There are a lot of things just looming around the corner. Very interesting!’