A hallmark of classical management, rooted in batch-and-queue material and information processing, is the existence of a perpetual state of confusion. That is not a good state to be in. People cannot think clearly when they are confused, and so when confronted with problems they rely on … [Read more...] about Business as a State of Confusion
How Soft Skills Impair Problem-Solving
If you observe carefully, you will notice that the people with the best problem-solving skills tend to have poor social skills, while those with the best social skills tend to be poor problem-solvers. The former are curious and go deep into their analysis of a problem to understand its root causes … [Read more...] about How Soft Skills Impair Problem-Solving
Promotion of Lean Must Evolve
Who doesn't admire Art Byrne, Orry Fiume, and the other members of the Wiremold senior management team? I've known Art and Orry for many years and continue to be captivated by their accomplishments and that of the entire Wiremold workforce. The Wiremold Company's transformation remains a classic … [Read more...] about Promotion of Lean Must Evolve
Where Scientific Thinking Lives and Dies
For many years now, there has been a great emphasis in the Lean movement on the development of problem-solving skills. Specifically, teaching people how to think scientifically through the use of PDCA, kata, coaching, etc. Typically, the target audience for training in scientific thinking is … [Read more...] about Where Scientific Thinking Lives and Dies
Profoundly Antagonistic Systems
One of W. Edwards Deming's great accomplishments was his creation of the "System of Profound Knowledge" (read more details here). The System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK) is described in Deming's book, The New Economics. In its most basic terms, SoPK is a framework designed to enable progress in the … [Read more...] about Profoundly Antagonistic Systems
Dismantling Classical Management
Since publishing my latest book, The Triumph of Classical Management Over Lean Management (February 2018), I've spent the last 10 months thinking a lot about how Toyota's management method (TMM) and Lean management are taught to people. The principal methods are via training and education. The … [Read more...] about Dismantling Classical Management
Lean Football
What would happen if Lean thinking were applied to American football?American football is in trouble. The league Commissioner and team owners know there must be changes made to the game to assure a future pipeline of skilled players and to grow its fan base for generations to come. But League … [Read more...] about Lean Football
That’s Not My Job
If you boil down Toyota's production system to its essence, its purpose is to synchronize supply to demand for buyers' markets. The ability to do so reduces the frequency and severity of stock-out (lost sales) or overproduction of finished goods (resulting in high costs and price discounting). The … [Read more...] about That’s Not My Job
Lean is an Intangible Asset
For the last 30 years, our eyes have told us this truth: There is a strong consensus of opinion among CEOs that if any of Lean is to be adopted, it is solely its tools. CEOs have expressed little interest in adopting Lean as a comprehensive system of management to replace Classical Management. This … [Read more...] about Lean is an Intangible Asset