Which option is NOT part of sustaining improvements?

• A. Hiring new staff
• B. Standardize processes
• C. Embedding governance
• D. Assign owners

Answer: (A)

Sustaining improvements means making the new way of working endure by turning it into standard, repeatable processes with clear ownership and ongoing oversight. Standardizing processes locks the improved method into everyday practice, so people follow the same steps every time and variation is reduced. Embedding governance provides the ongoing checks, reviews, and decision rights that keep the improvement from slipping back into old habits. Assigning owners creates accountability—someone is responsible for maintaining the change and monitoring results over time. Hiring new staff, while potentially helpful for capacity, is not itself a mechanism to sustain the improvement; without standardized methods, governance, and defined accountability, gains can fade regardless of staffing levels.