This month's question over on the Lean Edge asks why is there such a resistance to creating learning organizations and why are leaders letting the future deteriorate without doing anything about it. I am not sure that I can answer the question with any relevant facts to be honest. In order to answer this question properly I think the proper thing to do in TPS spirit is to "get ...

In this month's question Jan van Ginkel, Director Value Stream Management & Supply Chain Development at Sara Lee CoffeeTea asks what distinguishes a good lean leader from a traditional one in terms of behavior and results in short sentence. Here is my response posted over at the Lean Edge: Sorry but in all honesty I am not a fan of providing “sound bite” sized answers...

This month's question on The Lead Edge from Eric Buehrens Chief Operating Officer, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center the following - What is the right lean way to evaluate executive performance? My response over on the Lean Edge: Let’s consider answering this question in reverse for some contrast in terms of discussion. In other words what is th...

This month's question asks how can a Lean implementation program survive a change in top management? After all a Lean journey can take many years and a CEO might only be in place for a few years. The implied question I suppose is what is to stop the next CEO from abandoning the course? In the short run this can indeed be a problem and only true success and careful planning can ...

Rob Austin: how do we assuage fear of cost-cutting in times of crisis? By Robert Austin, co-author of Artful Making - Last updated: Sunday, December 6, 2009 - Save & Share - One comment As exciting as the lean ideas are, there’s a concern a person might have that starts with the name: Lean.  As in “lean and mean” or as in “cut your staff by half to make...