What was the purpose of writing 24 books? It was equal parts an intense personal curiosity, a desire to share what I have learned with others, and to make it easier for leaders to understand and practice progressive management. It is the last of these -- to make it easier for leaders to understand … [Read more...] about Twenty-Four Books
How My Work Has Evolved
The image below visually depicts how the books that I authored or co-authored have evolved since 2003. The main line pertains to Lean transformation and Lean leadership, proceeding to critiques of Lean leadership and Lean management, and then on to planning for Lean in the future. Above the … [Read more...] about How My Work Has Evolved
The Disaster of Lean Training
What have we learned after 30+ years of training people in Lean tools and methods, Lean thinking, Lean management, and Lean leadership? As I look back on my experience as a trainer, I am grateful for the opportunities, experience, income, favorable reviews, and feedback for improvement. Yet I, and … [Read more...] about The Disaster of Lean Training
Stupidity at Scale
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
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
Methods for Changing Leaders: A3 or Kaizen?
The emerging buzz these days is to expand the use of Toyota's A3 reports from a tool to engage mid-level managers in improvement to a tool for changing business leaders beliefs and behaviors. Recent examples include "The Power of Personal Yokoten" to change beliefs and "Four Things to Remember When … [Read more...] about Methods for Changing Leaders: A3 or Kaizen?
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
Critique of “5 GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO TRANSFORM HEALTHCARE”
The Lean Global Healthcare Initiative recently came out with a white paper titled "5 Guiding Principles to Transform Healthcare." Its purpose is to accelerate the 10 years that it takes to "reshape management systems and leadership behaviors" given the "pressing issues facing the industry today: … [Read more...] about Critique of “5 GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO TRANSFORM HEALTHCARE”