Professional and Career Topics

Somewhere in the early 2010s, when I was working in R&D, I was told we needed to start applying Lean. It was a short-lived exercise in futility. There was no organizational or leadership will, and the name was a turn-off. I've come to better understand Lean from reading about the auto industry

I view the purpose of many processes to overcoming a natural tendency toward bad behavior, knowingly or unknowingly. People like to work on what they're good at or find fun, not necessarily on what's needed. There is a natural tendency to control information to gain power. Collaboration requires sharing recognition, assuming a job well done. Decision-making is hard. Lean is a catchall for doing these things and more well.  Not a bad concept.