Article

Santa’s Hoshin Objectives: Driving Strategic Alignment at the North Pole

Read Santa's hoshin objectives to improve how North Pole, Inc delivers happiness to children around the globe.

by Lean Enterprise Institute

Faculty

Mark Reich

Mark Reich spent 23 years working for Toyota, starting in 1988 with six years in Japan in the Overseas Planning Division, where he was responsible…

Article

Managing to Connect the Macro with the Micro

LEI Chairman and CEO John Shook explains management PDCA: improving the way we align people with process to achieve purpose, connecting macro level business objectives…

by John Shook

Article

Form A Bold Strategy for Uncertain Times

Jeff Liker shares a competing values model to help you assess your strategy and focus your operational practices on flawless execution of this path.

by Jeffrey Liker

Article

Expanding the Purpose of Catchball

Learn how catchball, the process of colleagues tossing ideas back and forth to improve them iteratively, helps get the job done while building capability simultaneously.

by Josh Howell

Podcast

Driving Strategic Alignment and Daily Improvement: a Conversation with GE Appliances Executive Marcia Brey

In this edition of The Management Brief, Mark Reich sits down with Marcia Brey to discuss her 30-year career with GE Appliances.

by , Marcia Brey and Mark Reich

Article

The Management Brief: Access the First Collection

Download the first issue of The Management Brief, the Lean Enterprise Institute's guide to leadership excellence.

by Marcia Brey, Josh Howell and Mark Reich

Article

The Management Brief |  The Lean Transformation Framework throughout 2025  

Revisiting 2025's best Management Brief stories through the lens of the Lean Transformation Framework's five questions and what they reveal about transformation.

by Josh Howell and Mark Reich

Webinar

The Post-COVID-19 Reboot: Safe, Smart Steps for Restarting Production

GE Appliances and Herman Miller share lessons learned on opening manufacturing operations during the Covid-19 crisis. They share how their companies with deep lean experience have responded…

by Scott Bacon, Rich Calvaruso , Steve Michalak and Chris Shier

Article

Do You Practice Routine Personal Development?

Once we learn lean we often start seeing it everywhere, even in places we might least expect it. In this instance, Katie Anderson saw a…

by Katie Anderson

Article

How effective is a book club?

Dear Gemba Coach: How effective is a book club? Should we invest in book clubs?

by Michael Ballé

Article

Flaatnes Elektro-Mek Reveals How Double Loop Learning Supports Lean Thinking and Practice

Every experience is a learning experience. However, we tend to only experience single-loop learning where we reaffirm what we already think is true. Lean gives…

by Daryl Powell and Eivind Reke

Article

Leading Lean in Finance at Turner Construction

A finance leader from the largest general builder in the United States explains the benefits of involving the accounting and finance teams in your lean…

by Mike DeLuca

Article

The Lean Case for Founder Mode (plus Manager Mode)

Paul Graham's essay on "Founder Mode" vs. "Manager Mode" sparked a debate about how founders should lead their companies. Josh Howell offers a fresh perspective:…

by Josh Howell

Page

Case Studies

Below are case studies from a few of the companies we have partnered with.

Article

Two Big Takeaways from Three Lean Transformations

Josh Howell shares two key reflections from his lean journey—at Starbucks, Kroger, and Legal Sea Foods. He highlights why a complete lean management system, grounded…

by Josh Howell

Article

Building the Mindset and Skillset to Improve from the Board Room to the Classroom

A school district superintendent describes how lean thinking and practice transformed a failing district into a nationally recognized model of continuous improvement.

by Pat Greco

Article

Why does kaizen feel like chaos?

Dear Gemba Coach: Why does kaizen always feel so destabilizing?

by Michael Ballé

Article

What topics, tools, and techniques would you include in an MBA-level course on teaching lean concepts?

Dear Gemba Coach: I am designing an MBA-level course to teach lean concepts.  What topics, tools, and techniques would you include in a 7-week, 14-session…

by Michael Ballé

Article

How the A3 Process Developed to Help Build Better Managers

One of the hallmarks of a successfully executed A3 process is that it is a collaborative activity--a learning process for everyone involved: for learner and…

by Isao Yoshino