LOGAN, Utah – May 27, 2026 – The Shingo Institute, a program in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, has awarded the Shingo Publication Award to Chris Warner, Caroline Greenlee, and Chris Butterworth for their transformative book, Why Care? How Thriving Individuals Create Thriving Cultures of Continuous Improvement Within Organizations.

The Shingo Publication Award recognizes outstanding works that contribute significantly to organizational excellence through thought leadership and practical application. This prestigious award aligns with the Shingo Institute's mission to inspire leaders to achieve organizational excellence through the application of principles embedded in the Shingo Model™.

"Receiving the Shingo Publication Award signifies that the authors have made a significant contribution to the body of knowledge on organizational excellence, with a strong emphasis on practical application," said Ken Snyder, Executive Director of the Shingo Institute.

Why Care? How Thriving Individuals Create Thriving Cultures of Continuous Improvement Within Organizations has received high praise from industry leaders:

Gary Peterson, EVP, Supply Chain & Production, O.C. Tanner, states:

"As you read this book, see if you do not come to believe that you have the capability (and the responsibility) to create a thriving culture of continuous improvement where your people can grow and thrive."

Catalin Manoli, Factory Director, Danone, adds:

"How much I needed this book at the beginning of my career! Almost 30 years later, after leading teams and projects across different countries and activities, I still have a lot of 'aha' moments. Many still neglect the importance of psychological well-being and understanding how to bring it into your personal and professional life is fundamental. A brilliant book pointing out why, how, and what to do to continuously progress in minimizing the most important waste of our time – the lack of thriving individuals."

Olivier Marsal, Industrial Director, Hermès, shares:

"While we sometimes witness debates and opposition between the deployment of CI and a human approach, this book reconciles the two. It shows that by placing the individual at the heart of the system and helping them to develop, we manage to create an environment of trust, kindness, high standards, and professionalism that propels the individual into a powerful, committed collective and allows the company to accelerate its pace of progress. In the future, teams that develop in this way will be the cornerstone of successful organizations in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment."

Skip Steward, Vice President, Baptist Memorial Hospital, comments:

“I'm captivated by this book, not only for its intriguing nature but also for its capacity to explore a vital question regarding continuous improvement. While the significance of people is frequently acknowledged, individuals often get absorbed in the technical aspects of work, neglecting the social components. However, our present work systems are more akin to a double helix rather than distinct social and technical columns. The technical and social are interwoven and inseparable. This book admirably addresses this issue by starting with the fundamental question: “Why Care?”

Peter Hines, Founder, Enterprise Excellence Network, states:

“In the research I have carried out with the authors of this book, we found that you won’t create a sustainable culture of improvement by focusing on the well-being of your people alone, but equally you won’t create a culture of improvement if you don’t focus on the well-being of your people This requires a sort of mass customization of our leadership. The authors have skilfully explored why this is so, what is required, as well as how to do this. It escapes me how anyone can consider trying to create a sustainable culture of continuous improvement without reading this book first.”

Authors will be recognized at the 38th Annual Shingo Conference Awards Gala on March 19, 2026, in San Diego, California where they will also be presenting on the subject matter. The Annual Shingo Conference features workshops, site tours, keynotes, and breakout sessions designed to provide organizations with insights into achieving organizational excellence. For more information, visit shingo.org/events.

To order your copy of Why Care? How Thriving Individuals Create Thriving Cultures of Continuous Improvement Within Organizations, please visit https://shingo.org/books.

About the Shingo Institute

The Shingo Institute is home to the Shingo Prize, an award recognizing organizations that demonstrate an exceptional culture fostering continuous improvement. Part of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, the Shingo Institute is named after Japanese industrial engineer and Toyota adviser Shigeo Shingo, one of the world's thought leaders in the Toyota Production System.

Drawing from Dr. Shingo's teachings and years of experience working with organizations worldwide, the Shingo Institute developed the Shingo Model™, the basis for its various educational offerings, including workshops, study tours, and conferences. Workshops are available in multiple languages through the Institute's Licensed Affiliates. For more information on workshops and affiliates or to register to attend an event, please visit www.shingo.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mary Price, Events and Marketing Director
Shingo Institute
Phone: +1.435.760.0711
Email: mary.price@usu.edu

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