Blog Articles
The Power of Daily Improvement
January 14, 2025 – Peter Barnett
What if I told you that the path to being 37 times better isn't about perfection but persistence? While the idea of small daily improvements sounds inspiring, for many of us, the reality looks more like progress, setbacks, and the occasional cry for help. Sound familiar? James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, teaches that if yo...
Read Full ArticleBuilding Sustainable Capabilities
December 3, 2024 – Cheryl Jekiel, Shingo Faculty Fellow
A few years ago, I declared, "I’m too cranky to settle for delivering training that doesn’t last!" At the time, I had created a leadership workshop series for a state department, presented over two months. Afterward, many participants shared how much the sessions had helped them, and my team was pleased with our success. However...
Read Full ArticleUnleashing Employee Potential: The Key to Organizational Success
November 11, 2024 – Jay Timms, Organizational Psychologist
I'll be the first to admit it. I am getting old. I grew up in a world where the boss was not only respected, they were kind of feared. You did what you were told to do and never questioned the tasks you were given, and you were thankful that you didn't get fired just about every day. Ah…the good old days. Wel...
Read Full ArticleAct Yourself to Lean Thinking
September 27, 2024 – Norbert Majerus and Arnoud Herremans
I was about ten years into my Lean journey when I heard, “You cannot think yourself to Lean acting, but you can act yourself to Lean thinking.” I didn’t understand it, so I dismissed it; it was just another Lean slogan. But then, thankfully, I had the opportunity to hear Arnoud Herremans, a psychologist, at a conference, an...
Read Full ArticleShingo Leadership: Below the Waterline
September 9, 2024 – Peter Hines, Juliano Salvadorinho, and Helen Zak
The Shingo Model emphasizes a culture where every individual is respected, and leadership is characterized by humility. Gary Peterson of O.C. Tanner exemplifies this ideal through his exemplary leadership, which has been the focus of extensive research by Peter, Juliana, and Helen. Their research explores Gary's approach as a Sh...
Read Full ArticleStaying Ahead of the Curve: Using Behavior Indicators for Predictive Success
August 12, 2024 – Jacob Raymer
For over 20 years, I've helped companies focus on building and aligning their systems, empowering their people, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. When I talk about the concept of key behaviors, it's initially met with nods of agreement — they get its importance. However, this is quickly followed by looks of uncertainty, a...
Read Full ArticleAre You Ready to Challenge for the Shingo Prize?
June 28, 2024 – Shaun Barker, Brittney Ogden, and Helen Zak
The mission of the Shingo Institute is to improve the process of improvement by conducting cutting-edge research, providing relevant education, performing insightful organizational assessments, and recognizing organizations committed to achieving sustainable world-class results. Since the inauguration of the Shingo Prize in 1988, thousand...
Read Full ArticlePsychological Safety
June 5, 2024 – Mark Graban
When you visit a Toyota plant in Japan, the United States, or elsewhere, you can’t help but notice that chimes and music are playing almost continually. What triggers the helpful cacophony? It’s a team member reaching up and pulling the famous “Andon cord.” Since Toyota seeks perfection, one way they assure quality at the source ...
Read Full ArticleThe Future of People at Work
May 20, 2024 – Ken Snyder and Josh Howell
As with us, we find that many people throughout the world are attracted to Lean[1] because of a desire within to make the workplace better – better for the customers, better for the workers, better for the leaders, better for the investors, and better for the community. We agree with Paul O’Neill that “Every person should have the op...
Read Full ArticleWhy Care?
March 28, 2024 – Chris Warner, Caroline Greenlee, and Chris Butterworth
There has been a global explosion in volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) with the pace and complexity of work continuing to increase in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This complexity and uncertainty is accelerating for many reasons, including climate change and the not yet fully understood impacts of artificial i...
Read Full ArticleLessons on Enterprise Alignment from the Peloton
March 21, 2024 – Nancy Nouaimeh, XcelliUm Consultancy
Enterprise alignment means getting every person in the organization to ride in the same direction. Such alignment makes the organization, teams, and individuals stronger, and it allows us to achieve better results at all possible levels. Many may recognize how important enterprise alignment is for an organization’s performance; however...
Read Full ArticleThe Foundational Skills of a Continuous Improvement Culture
March 7, 2024 – Jim Huntzinger, Lean Frontiers
The Continuous Improvement ObstacleHave you, your team, and your organization been working to create a culture of continuous improvement, perhaps been trying for years? Are you having a hard time finding your way, whether achieving desired results or sustaining the results gained? Do you need fresh perspective and inspiration on your cont...
Read Full ArticleLeading to Learn: Harnessing the Power of People
February 9, 2024 – Katie Anderson
In many organizations, the predominant culture emphasizes pursuing outcomes and deliverables as paramount. This relentless focus on profit, efficiency, and growth places a disproportionate emphasis on short-term results. Companies often overlook the development and contributions of employees, which is a critical component in achieving suc...
Read Full ArticleUnlocking the Power of Every Individual
January 8, 2024 – Emily Swaney, Sr. Director, Lean Promotion Office at OhioHealth
When asked about my work, I often say, "I cultivate a culture of 35,000 problem solvers." If this is our mission—my team's mission—it is mission-critical (pun intended) to kickstart our efforts by focusing on the journey of every individual. At OhioHealth, our continuous improvement journey began in '06, emphasizing removing waste from...
Read Full ArticleThinking Outside the Lean Box
November 20, 2023 – Norbert Majerus
The electric lightbulb was not invented by continuously improving the candle, and Tesla’s success with electric vehicles does not come from continuously improving combustion engines. Many companies and organizations, including those with mature Lean cultures, find themselves in a rut or up against a brick wall and they realize that innova...
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