April Fools’ Jokes Posted on LinkedIn
I hope you enjoy my series of seven April Fools’ jokes that I wrote and illustrated. The theme is satire. We have to laugh at ourselves and the absurdities (denial of logic) that people find ways to justify as normal. These April Fools’ jokes are more than humor. They are a window into our world; how we think, what we do, and what we understand or misunderstand. The jokes reflect our history, our success and failure, and the burden or liberation of truth.
1/7 This image satirizes the Lean community’s obsessions with value stream maps and Toyota. It also satirizes alleged rivalries. It’s not a rivalry when people do different things. The words that accompanied the LinkedIn post were: “This totally rewrites Lean history! 🤯”
2/7 This image satirizes the Lean community’s obsession with A3 reports and Toyota. The words that accompanied the LinkedIn post were: “Change for the better! 🎉”
3/7 This image satirizes the Lean community’s obsession with Toyota and how Toyota’s every move is seen as unparalleled brilliance. The words that accompanied the LinkedIn post were: “WOW! Is there any company better than Toyota? 🤓 This exciting new model is expected to be named “Jooku” (ジョーク).”
4/7 This image satirizes the Lean community’s obsession with gemba walks and the perpetual difficulty it has with getting top leaders to go to the genba. The words that accompanied the LinkedIn post were: “Kaizen Team 6 invents a new method for getting stubborn CEOs to go the gemba! Sensei Shikaru-san named it “Joiraido!” (ジョイライド！).”
5/7 This image satirizes the Lean community’s long-standing difficulty enlisting top leaders to become “Lean CEOs.” The words that accompanied the LinkedIn post were: “Finally, renewed HOPE and a reason to BELIEVE! Thank you Lean Enterprise Institute! 🤗”
6/7 This image satirizes the Lean community’s obsessions with the Lean Bureau (i.e., the Lean Enterprise Institute and the Lean Enterprise Academy) and “Respect for People.” The words that accompanied the LinkedIn post were: “Next on the Lean Bureau’s agenda, the Continuous Improvement Subcommittee will officially determine if ‘Continuous Improvement’ (without interruption or cessation) should be replaced with ‘Continual Improvement’ (recurring frequently or regularly). Rumors say it’s the latter.”
7/7 This image satirizes the Lean community’s obsessions with the kata and Toyota. But more importantly, it satirizes the willingness of Lean movement leaders and Lean professionals to ignore the most obvious problem and their stubborn disinterest to find solutions. The words that accompanied the LinkedIn post were: “Yup, it’s a bummer. Probably should have thought of that sooner.”
Bonus April Fools’ Jokes!
1/3 This image what people think I seek, and how Lean’s inner circle (allegedly devoted to learning) remains closed to outsiders and outside influence. It also satirizes their perceived high status and disrespect for information or people or that they imagine to be offensive or destructive to their business.
2/3 This image satirizes the widespread perception that there is an ongoing fight between me and the Lean Enterprise Institute or James Womack and Daniel Jones. People who think that have missed the point of my work by a large margin.
3/3 This image recognizes the reality that in the long run, classical management wins. It satirizes the fact that top Lean promoters and influencers still have no plan for addressing that problem, thus leaving Lean professionals (their customers) in a perpetual state of struggle, frustration, and confusion.
2022 and 2023 April Fools’ Jokes Posted on LinkedIn
Click here to view my 2022 and 2023 April Fools’ jokes. Many people thought these were real! 😂