In my graduate-level Lean leadership course, I introduce students to eight categories of preconceptions that are deeply intertwined with one another with respect to classical leadership and management practice. I then ask following question: How do you know when economic, social, political, … [Read more...] about Stupidity at Scale
Archives for November 2020
Mass Producing Happiness
Most people are not familiar with the history of progressive management because they do not see how it is relevant to today's problems or needs. But I can assure you this history is relevant to humanity today and beyond. Beginning in the late 1800s with what later became known as Scientific … [Read more...] about Mass Producing Happiness
Process-Results Dichotomy
One of the things that Lean practitioners learn at the start is the importance of understanding processes so that better results will be consistently achieved. This intimate relationship between means and ends is obscure to most people, and so documenting and studying process is a big revelation. … [Read more...] about Process-Results Dichotomy
Lean — Survival or Decline
When we think of Lean management, we probably do not think of it in evolutionary terms. But we should for two reasons. First, evolution takes a prominent place in the thinking of Toyota production system and Toyota's overall management system -- the need to evolve in response to the reality of … [Read more...] about Lean — Survival or Decline
Guide to Books
Here is a guide to my books. It will help you understand the range of tiles and subject matter. Go to the books page and click on the book covers to learn more about each book. Leadership Reimagined Why Leaders Reject Lean Management Lean … [Read more...] about Guide to Books
Are Lean People Stupid?
No, not stupid, but certainly blind to how their rhetoric is interpreted by those whom they wish to influence most -- CEOs. We have all done it. I as well as most others, people you know and don't know. Frederick Winslow Taylor did it. Taiichi Ohno did it. Our beloved and iconic Lean CEO, Art Byrne, … [Read more...] about Are Lean People Stupid?
Move Over Lean!
COVID-19 is having a remarkable impact on business -- not in terms of shutting businesses down, but what business leaders are doing to adapt and survive. A principal strategy is to shift to various forms of e-commerce to deliver the goods and services that people need. The "process improvement … [Read more...] about Move Over Lean!
Wonder No More
Do you ever wonder about these things: Why do most Lean transformations struggle or fail? Why it is so difficult for bosses to accept Lean management? Who no servant leadership? Why does classical management maintain its grip on leaders? Why are CEOs so resistant to change? Why do people get in … [Read more...] about Wonder No More
The Back Story – Improvement
This is the back story to the book Improvement. Improvement is the fourth and final book in the series The Triumph of Classical Management Over Lean Management (2018), Irrational Institutions (2020), and Management Mysterium (2020). It adds to this body of work by examining the principal … [Read more...] about The Back Story – Improvement