SOSTAC® is a comprehensive planning framework that helps businesses develop effective marketing plans. The framework comprises six components: Situation analysis, Objectives, Strategy, Tactics, Action, and Control. Each of these components plays a critical role in the development and execution of a successful marketing plan. Situation Analysis. The first step in creating a marketing plan using […]

Here at KaiNexus, we get the opportunity to chat with organizations across all industries and write about many different continuous improvement tools and techniques they use. Lately, I’ve been thinking about two things that most have in common. First, the tools they use are generally simple but not easy. And second, the key to success […]

Hi all, We talked through the Scrum Guide. Some questions came up: Q: Will you tell us exactly how Scrum works? Hmm.  The Scrum Guide kind of does that.  And I added to  that.  Still I am not sure it was “exactly” or “completely”.  There is always a lot more to add and you all […]

FEATURE – Based on her experience at Lean Institute Colombia, the author lists five common mistakes hindering a lean transformation. Take note! Words: Angélica Gutiérrez No matter where you are on your lean journey, you have surely made some mistakes. They might have caused one or more false starts or stopped you in your tracks […]

In my last post, I described how to build a qualification matrix (also skill matrix, competence matrix, or Q-Matrix). In this post I will go into more detail on how to use a qualification matrix. By itself, the qualification matrix is a pretty simple but useful tool. This post will help you to get the […]

From delivery challenges to operational or cultural transformation, organizational roadblocks can be found everywhere. Knowing how you generate value is essential, but finding what’s preventing delivery is key to enabling lasting improvements and greater efficiency. In this line of thought, constraints, and bottlenecks are the main limiting factors of every process. Having said that, reading […]

Announcing Adaptive Organisation part I (00:01:53) Out now: chapter 3 of Adaptive Organisation, the fourth and final module of Leading with Outcomes. This latest chapter, Mutual Trust Building, completes part I, for which a certificate of completion applies. Part I, Business agility at every scale covers the three overlapping “spaces” of the Deliberately Adaptive Organisation, […]

Change is inevitable in both our personal and professional lives. In organizations, it is essential for growth and improvement. However, it is common for individuals to resist change, which can hinder progress. The image we analyze today presents a comprehensive overview of the reasons for change resistance and potential responses to overcome it: Image source: […]

The words “enable,” “empower,” and “encourage” can also have significant implications for improving organizational performance and promoting continuous improvement in the context of quality management. Enable: In the context of quality management, to enable is to make available the tools, resources, and procedures required to assist individuals and teams in improving their performance and achieving […]

Image Source: Unsplash Burnout is an unfortunate reality for many business leaders and their teams. We’re living in a time of high stress in the workplace, with nearly 3 in 5 employees saying they have experienced negative impacts of workplace stress in the last month. If you’re a leader at your company, burnout can wreak […]

[Updated 2022-03-20 – dates changed to accommodate block bookings!] London, UK, venue TBC. Three days, each available separately, each certified. Buy two consecutive days and save 20%. Buy all three together and save 30%: Day 1. Tuesday, June 20th: Leading with Outcomes: Foundation Day 2. Wednesday, June 21st: Adaptive Organisation (I): Business agility at every scale […]

By Pascal Dennis (bio) I wrote a book about it – (The Remedy). Why did I bother? Because Lean is about reducing waste & variation — and most of it is outside of the factory. The past few decades, factories, and Operations in general, have gotten better and better. There’s still much opportunity, but in […]

An Internal Process SOP is a crucial tool for businesses of all sizes. It provides a set of guidelines and steps to follow for specific tasks or processes within an organization. A well-documented SOP ensures that team members know the procedures and can complete tasks efficiently and effectively. This article will discuss the essential elements […]

Introduction The Toyota Production System (TPS) has long been regarded as a paragon of efficiency and effectiveness in the manufacturing industry. One of the primary principles of TPS is “The Toyota Way,” a management philosophy emphasizing continuous improvement and respect for people. In this blog post, we will share a practical problem-solving framework inspired by […]

Spaghetti diagrams help visualize the flow of materials, people, and information through a process. They allow organizations to identify areas of inefficiency and waste and make targeted improvements to optimize operations. This post explores the steps in creating a spaghetti diagram and best practices for analyzing and improving process flow. By implementing these strategies, organizations […]

Project management is essential for small businesses to ensure that tasks are completed on time, within budget, and with the desired quality. However, managing projects manually can be overwhelming, time-consuming, and prone to errors. Small businesses need project management software to streamline and automate their project workflows. This article will discuss the benefits of project […]

In today’s healthcare industry, Lean principles have been adopted to eliminate waste and improve efficiency. The application of lean principles in healthcare has gained popularity over the years as it enables organizations to reduce waste and increase efficiency, resulting in improved patient outcomes. In the lean methodology, waste refers to any process or activity that […]

64. TheLeanSuite Founded: 2021 Founder: Angad Singh and Prabhpahul Singh  Website: www.theleansuite.com Elevator Pitch: We facilitate the digitization and implementation of various Lean programs for our clients by connecting the people, the data, and the processes. With squeezing margins, an increase in competitors, and digital transformation in manufacturing on the rise, companies are struggling to […]

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on […]

Let’s face it. Most, if not all, behaviors-based leadership development training programs are fluff. I’ve been through these programs and so have you. You know it’s true. I am not saying that behavior-based leadership training programs are not helpful to some leaders at different points in the careers. But for most people ascending the corporate […]

In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing how to foster a continuous improvement culture. According to the McKinsey Organizational Health Index, a continuous improvement culture is one of the most important ingredients for a healthy organizational culture. But, before we get into how you can foster a continuous improvement culture, let’s first discuss what continuous improvement […]

The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni is a thought-provoking and insightful guide to unlocking the potential of individuals and teams in the workplace. Lencioni, also known for books such as The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Death by Meeting, identifies six types of working geniuses that can contribute to exceptional results […]

Quality improvement refers to finding and implementing improvements that will result in better outcomes, more effective procedures, and increased customer satisfaction. A popular strategy for quality improvement that concentrates on improving specific projects or initiatives is called “project-by-project improvement.” Setting goals and objectives, defining the project’s scope, recognizing potential risks and difficulties, and then applying […]

Kanban started as a scheduling system developed by Taiichi Ohno that revolutionized the automotive industry and was the foundation of the Toyota Production System. The term Kanban nowadays refers to the Kanban method for knowledge work application, which gained traction at the beginning of the 21st century. The approach gained massive popularity across the software sector, […]

Admit it or not, all companies face challenges. In today’s competitive market, Lean is turning out to be “the solution” to manufacturing industries across the spectrum for survival and success. Lean manufacturing helps organizations to achieve targeted productivity and more by introduction of easy-to-apply and maintainable techniques and tools. Its focus on waste reduction and […]

FEATURE – PL readers will likely be familiar with IOV, the cancer clinic in Brazil that’s become a reference for lean healthcare for countless organizations. Here, Dr Fred looks back at IOV’s 15-year journey. Words: Dr Frederico Pinto Fifteen years ago, lean in healthcare was in its infancy. There were very few examples out there. […]

This post outlines practical job search tips for professionals seeking a career transition. The job market is competitive, and making a career switch can be challenging, but with the right mindset and approach, it is possible to achieve success. The following tips can help you navigate the job search process, develop new skills, and smoothly […]

Donald J. Wheeler, Ph.D. is a world-renowned expert in continuous improvement. He’s worked with W. Edwards Deming and wrote the classic book Understanding Variation.  Wheeler once wrote and said, “Statistical Process Control is, at its heart, about getting the most from your processes. It is about the continual improvement of processes and outcomes. And it […]

Scroll down for how to subscribe, transcript, and more Joining us for Episode #471 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Dr. Randel Pinkett. He was a guest in Episode 380 in 2020, with Prof. Jeffrey Robinson, his co-author for the book Black Faces in White Places. Today, I’m honored to be joined by Randal […]

The qualification matrix (also skill matrix, competence matrix, or Q-matrix, one of the few examples where Q does not stand for Quality) is a simple tool to keep track of the qualifications of your employees. It keeps track of who can do what and how well. As a tool, it is not overly complicated but […]

Hi, just a quick announcement today: I’ve turned off the Google Ads that display on LeanBlog.org. Over time, they became increasingly intrusive for me as a user. I can only imagine the ads were annoying others. And, despite Google’s efforts to convince me otherwise, the financial reward wasn’t worth the risk of driving readers away […]

An inspiring taster of something big clearly brewing Ryan Behrman, organiser of the Systemic Agility meetup Thank you Ryan! That “something big” is the Leading with Outcomes module Adaptive Organisation: Business agility at every scale and the model behind it, the Deliberately Adaptive Organisation. By happy coincidence, chapter 2 of the module’s latest iteration (beta […]

As the saying goes, “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” It is especially true in business, where unforeseen risks and uncertainties can quickly derail even the most well-planned initiatives. Conducting a comprehensive risk assessment is critical in any business strategy. The risk assessment identifies potential risks, analyzes their likelihood and impact, and […]

In order to achieve great results, you should be constantly thinking about how you can motivate and inspire your team. The ultimate throttle on the growth of a company is the people so keep raising their inspiration and motivation levels. This will ensure a happy energized team always delivering great output. Here are some ideas […]