The Lean Manager
An OD Consultant talks about the book "The Lean Startup" and it's value for managers.
The Lean Manager
One of the best parts of consulting is that you get to learn so much on the job. Not only in terms of becoming better at the work you do, but about different business philosophies and practices. This year I've been doing a lot of work with aerospace businesses, and it's gotten me thinking about the benefits of LEAN business practices and the idea of continuous improvement.
LEAN is a philosophy that has roots in the automotive industry, but it has broad appeal for both manufacturing and service businesses. At it's heart is the idea that we can systematically improve our internal processes, driving quality, minimizing waste, and creating more value for our customers.
I've seen my manufacturing clients use LEAN process improvement to reduce lead time for manufacturing, improve on time delivery, and even to improve sales. And recently I read a great book that talks about how a "lean business mindset" can be used as a model for management.
You can find the book "The Lean Startup" here or at your local library, and check out the author's website at this link. Don't let the word "startup" throw you off, because I think these are some concepts that can benefit any business that is delivering products or services in an uncertain market.
The big takeaway for me was the concept of focusing your energy on answering important questions about your business, not simply setting performance targets.
Then you go about answering these questions, via experimentation and short term efforts. Based upon what you learn, you adjust your strategy. You might even stop selling, and pursue something with higher success. It depends upon what you learn.
This is a more disciplined way of approaching business than many of us are used to, but also an approach that recognizes we cannot be certain about our success until we experiment. So why not make those experiments as tight and focused as we can?
Cheri Baker is an organizational development consultant in Seattle WA. Her clients are diverse and represent many industries, including manufacturers and LEAN shops.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
LEAN is a philosophy that has roots in the automotive industry, but it has broad appeal for both manufacturing and service businesses. At it's heart is the idea that we can systematically improve our internal processes, driving quality, minimizing waste, and creating more value for our customers.
I've seen my manufacturing clients use LEAN process improvement to reduce lead time for manufacturing, improve on time delivery, and even to improve sales. And recently I read a great book that talks about how a "lean business mindset" can be used as a model for management.
You can find the book "The Lean Startup" here or at your local library, and check out the author's website at this link. Don't let the word "startup" throw you off, because I think these are some concepts that can benefit any business that is delivering products or services in an uncertain market.
The big takeaway for me was the concept of focusing your energy on answering important questions about your business, not simply setting performance targets.
Then you go about answering these questions, via experimentation and short term efforts. Based upon what you learn, you adjust your strategy. You might even stop selling, and pursue something with higher success. It depends upon what you learn.
This is a more disciplined way of approaching business than many of us are used to, but also an approach that recognizes we cannot be certain about our success until we experiment. So why not make those experiments as tight and focused as we can?
Cheri Baker is an organizational development consultant in Seattle WA. Her clients are diverse and represent many industries, including manufacturers and LEAN shops.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
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