The Good Jobs Strategy

Almost one in four American working adults has a job that pays less than a living wage. If companies were to offer better jobs, customers would have to pay more or companies would have to make less.

MIT Sloan Associate Professor Zeynep Ton makes the compelling case that even in low-cost settings, leaving employees behind—with bad jobs—is a choice, not a necessity.

If you’re ready to invest in your future and your team’s, make plans today to attend these practical, in-depth training sessions at LEI in Cambridge, MA:

Key Concepts of Lean Workshop, August 15-16. Save your seats »

Value-Stream Mapping: a Methodology for Sustainable System Improvement, August 17-18. Learn more »

Strategy Deployment and Alignment through Hoshin, August 22-23. Register today »

The five Coaching Kata questions are just the main headings for a coaching cycle, and prompts to help reveal how the learner is thinking — so the coach can give appropriate, situational feedback. This video includes clarifying questions, discussion, and feedback between the five Coaching Kata questions. Please excuse the poor audio.

At his talk at the Lean Transformation Summit earlier this year, Lantech CEO Jim Lancaster shared these words, expressing a Groundhog Day-like despair at having to solve the same problems on a daily basis ("Didn’t we do this yesterday?"). As he voiced his anguish, I looked out and saw a good 600 of the 660 listeners looking down at their feet in a shared response, his comment the awakening whap of a "Zen stick" inspiring each listener to reflect, "Yes, that’s me!" and ask, "If he can break the cycle, why can’t I?"

Driving Down a Leaner, Greener Road? by Jim Womack

After a road trip from Boston to Philadelphia driving Toyota’s hydrogen fuel-cell Mirai, Jim reflects on lean and green and why the two are not necessarily the same.

To make sure training engaged and resonated with people after previous attempts at a lean transformation faltered, LifeWay matched lean management tools and principles to its Bible-based culture and language.

Get the support and expertise you need to be self-reliant – online and for free – with Michael Ballé, who has more than 20 years’ experience helping companies make lean management transformations and coaching the executives who lead them.

Learn how companies are using Lean Product & Process Development (LPPD) to create a sustainable system for consistently delivering great products and profitable value streams.

Want to learn more? Read Jim Morgan's monthly E-letter.