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Transforming as a Problem-Solver
In this episode of The Management Brief, Josh Howell and Mark Reich speak with Scott Heydon, former Starbucks VP of…
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AI to Empower People: Fabrice Bernhard on Using AI to Improve Product Development
In this episode of The Design Brief, Fabrice Bernhard—cofounder of Theodo and coauthor of The Lean Tech Manifesto—shares how lean…
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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…
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Show Respect by Exploring Problems with Your Workers
In this edition of The Management Brief, Jim Womack shares why true respect for people means engaging in shared, rigorous…
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Finally, a Lean Transformation for the Entire Enterprise
Josh Howell, president of the Lean Enterprise Institute, reflects on Legal Sea Foods’ leader-led lean transformation. Executive Chef Rich Vellante…
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The Toyota Triangle and Problem-Solving
In this edition of The Management Brief, we speak with Olivier Larue, President of Ydatum and author of The Toyota…
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The Limits of Process Improvement: A Lesson from Kroger, a Major Grocer
A lean transformation at Kroger showed early promise but stalled without daily management and strategic alignment—highlighting the need for strong…
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The Power of Problem-Solving
In June, The Management Brief launched a two-month focus on problem-solving, exploring this core of continuous improvement through three unique…
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Lean Without Daily Management? Here’s What Happened at Starbucks
An early lean effort at Starbucks cut coffee waste and improved service—but didn’t stick. The lesson: improving work isn’t enough…
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A Personal Pursuit of Problem-Solving
In this episode of the Management Brief, Sal Sanchez, Toyota veteran and TPS coach, joins Josh Howell and Mark Reich…
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In the Arena: Grit, Teams, and Value Streams in Lean Entrepreneurship
In this edition of the Design Brief, we explore what it takes to lead a lean start-up—from building the right…
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Reflections on Lean Transformation and Management: Introduction
Real stories from Starbucks, Kroger, and Legal Sea Foods reveal what it takes—and what gets in the way—of real lean…
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