"The Role of Continuous Improvement in Reducing Operational Waste" (A Field Study on Commercial Banks Operating within the Al-Abyar Municipality)

This study aimed to identify the role of continuous improvement in reducing operational waste in commercial banks by analyzing the level of implementation of continuous improvement practices and the extent to which they contribute to developing banking operations and reducing non-value-added activities. The study adopted the descriptive-analytical approach. The study population comprised all employees working in commercial banks operating within the municipality of Al-Abyar. Due to the small size of the study population, a comprehensive census method was employed. A questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument, with 62 questionnaires distributed. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), along with appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The results revealed a high level of implementation of continuous improvement practices and a strong emphasis on reducing operational waste. The findings also demonstrated a statistically significant positive effect of continuous improvement on reducing operational waste. The study concluded that adopting a culture of continuous improvement contributes to enhancing operational efficiency, simplifying procedures, reducing errors, and improving resource utilization, thereby supporting the development of institutional performance in commercial banks.