In a recent blog post, "Ahead Yet Still Far Behind," I lamented the continuing hope that the only solution to widespread adoption of Lean management is to change leaders' behaviors. This is the same magical thinking bet that has been placed by untold numbers of leadership researchers, educators, … [Read more...] about Betting It All On Leadership Behaviors
Confronting the Arguments Against Lean Management
In previous work, I explained in extraordinary detail why leaders resist or reject Lean management. Unfortunately, leaders will never explain their dislike for Lean as I described it because it gives away too many of their deepest secrets. Instead, they will justify their dislike for Lean using … [Read more...] about Confronting the Arguments Against Lean Management
Tired of Hearing About Toyota?
I know I am. But that is because we have been hearing the same old things about Toyota -- their production system, obeya, coaching, gemba walks, A3 reports, value steam maps, LPPD, and so on. All the stuff that is easy to package and sell by various parties. You don't hear much about Just-in-Time, … [Read more...] about Tired of Hearing About Toyota?
What Happened to Lean?
Leading authors and luminaries in the Agile community have, after only 19 years, begun to publicly question its de-evolution from something grand (Agile Manifesto, to improve software development) to something "misdirected, misattributed, ineffectual, and misshapen." They are calling Agile a failing … [Read more...] about What Happened to Lean?
Recent WTFU Articles
Karl: What you are trying to do is get people to wake the fuck up. Isn't that right?Bob E. Yes, that's right.Karl: People need to wake the fuck up. Lean management, TPS, or any effort with the wholesome intention of "change for the better," is destined to struggle or fail if people won't wake … [Read more...] about Recent WTFU Articles
Ahead Yet Still Far Behind
Nothing disappoints me more than to see my impassioned colleagues labor to advance Lean management using arguments that go back 100 years and which are known to be ineffective. What the purpose of doing that? Is it stubbornness, ignorance, clinging to an outdated worldview, or an inability to … [Read more...] about Ahead Yet Still Far Behind
Lean’s Tragic Path Dependence
Path dependence means that what happened in the past is likely to persist in the future because of resistance to change. The sources of resistance to change usually boils down to doing what is best for an organization or its leaders, and could be financial, to assure continuity with past decisions, … [Read more...] about Lean’s Tragic Path Dependence
How Lean Induces Debilitating Cognitive Dissonance
A common scenario goes like this: Salaried professionals somehow become aware of Lean management. They learn more about it and soon begin to see it as a much better way to lead and manage an organization. Seeing this great opportunity, they become strong advocates for Lean within their organization. … [Read more...] about How Lean Induces Debilitating Cognitive Dissonance
The Enemy of Lean is Classical Management
This page summarizes the research that I have been engaged in since 2007 to unravel the most important question that we have all had for many years: Why do leaders resist or reject Lean management? Read the three books in the order shown above, staring with The Triumph of Classical Management … [Read more...] about The Enemy of Lean is Classical Management