Course Overview
As laboratories continue to push for increased efficiencies, the importance of good management techniques has never been more relevant in the forensic community. Creating a foundation of financial literacy for students to build on allows the introduction of lean management and change management principles which can be applied in a laboratory context. Students will examine how ethical standards influence professional practice in forensics, and how efficiencies can be created in the context of a forensic science laboratory.
Prerequisite(s)
- Admission to a Forensic credential program or permission of the Program Coordinator.
Credits
3.0
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course. You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Domestic fees
$881.41
International fees are typically 3.4 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Apply basic budgeting and the Cost/Volume/Profit models to the day to day operations of a forensic lab.
- Apply Net Present Value analysis to the implementation of new Short Tandem Repeat technology to determine if it is cost effective compared to the existing tools.
- Analyze Kaizen methodology, with a focus on applications to a forensic biology workflow.
- Discuss Just-In-Time methodology to determine how to optimize batched DNA analysis with customer needs.
- Illustrate a cell shaped production setup in a forensic lab environment, showing where efficiency gains can be made over traditional setup.
- Solve batch size optimization problems relating to forensic samples, with appropriate QA controls built into the system.
- Discuss TPM and the importance of quality. Use 6-sigma concepts to illustrate high levels of quality being maintained and how quality impacts forensic results in a court setting.
- Assess resistance as a tool to improve change management protocols.
- Discuss change fatigue and measures to reduce the impacts of it in environments where frequent change is unavoidable due to rapid technological shifts in forensic disciplines.
- Discuss fair process as a tool to implement unpopular change that is required to meet forensic accreditation standards.
- Explain ethical use of client data and non-disclosure protocols.
- Explain ethical use of client data and non-disclosure protocols.
- Design a implementation plan for a new DNA process using lean management, change management and Net Present value analysis.
Effective as of Fall 2018
Related Programs
Business Management for Forensic Science (FSCT 8371) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Computing and Academic Studies
- Combined Honours in Biochemistry and Forensic Science
Bachelor of Science Full-time
- Forensic Investigation (Forensic Science Option)
Advanced Certificate Part-time
- Forensic Investigation (Forensic Science Option)
Bachelor of Technology Part-time
Course Offerings
Fall 2026
Below is one offering of FSCT 8371 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 45924
Dates
Sep 08 - Dec 11 Loading
- CRN 45924
- $881.41 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
13 weeks
Instructor
Steen Hartsen
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- This is a hybrid course: online Sept 8 - Dec 11, 2026 (asynchronous) and two (2) face to face (F2F) sessions scheduled at the Burnaby campus on Mon Oct 26 and Nov 30, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm (1800-2100) PST. There will be no online content for the week of Nov 11th. For details on the textbook and course material required, please check: www.bcitbookstore.ca/bcit/buy_textbooks.asp (BCIT-FALL 2026 TERM / FSCT / 8371 / HYBRID) or purchase from Amazon: amzn.to/46WXrpq
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.