Everyone in the Lean community knows the case for Lean management. Most of my books and research papers strongly support the case for Lean, based on the facts. But, as Art Byrne says: “about 95 percent of all lean conversions fail.” Why is that? And why aren't most CEOs interested in Lean? It's … [Read more...] about The Case Against Lean
Means and Ends in Management Systems
I have written a new research paper that you may be interested in reading. It builds on my previous work (listed below) and expands the understanding of why most business leaders resist or reject Lean management. The abstract is shown in the image below. Click on the image to read or download the … [Read more...] about Means and Ends in Management Systems
Lean’s Crumbling Foundation
The intellectual foundation of Lean management was built decades ago at a time when business reigned supreme. It was an engrossing mania. Celebrity CEOs, more charismatic than competent, fed everyone a steady diet of hype and spin. The focus was on quarterly earnings, growth, and, of course, the … [Read more...] about Lean’s Crumbling Foundation
What is Lean’s Future?
COVID-19, like all emergencies, commands people to focus on shrinking the time from order to delivery. People quickly remove all the barriers to getting the job done. They eliminate bad processes and steps in processes and get rid of queue time to get material and information to flow. And we see … [Read more...] about What is Lean’s Future?
The Back Story – Management Mysterium
This is the back story to the book Management Mysterium. Management Mysterium is a follow-on to The Triumph of Classical Management Over Lean Management (2018) and Irrational Institutions (2020). It adds to this body of work by examining invisible aspects of leadership and management … [Read more...] about The Back Story – Management Mysterium
Winning With Lean
The goal of any athlete competing in a race is to win. How much do they want to win by isn't something athletes usually think about. They are content if the smallest margin of measurement results in a win. For example, a runner wins if they finish 0.001 seconds ahead of their nearest competitor. … [Read more...] about Winning With Lean
Management as an Engineering Problem
What has been Lean's contribution to business and society over the last 35 years? Has it been great or small? And for whom? I recently read a fabulously informative and beautifully written 1992 doctoral dissertation by Carlos E. Pabon, titled: "Regulating Capitalism: The Taylor Society and … [Read more...] about Management as an Engineering Problem
History Matters
Most people who are interested in Toyota's management practice have no interest in the history of progressive management ideas and practices that preceded it. Nor is there much interest in the problems and difficulties faced by those who worked to advance progressive management prior to TPS. I find … [Read more...] about History Matters
Visceral Disdain for Lean
Why do people have an almost instinctive negative reaction to management innovations that affect their work, especially anything that might result in higher output? The negative gut reaction that workers have towards modern progressive management, ranging from suspicion to outright disdain, reduces … [Read more...] about Visceral Disdain for Lean