Lean Enterprise Institute Logo
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Cart (0)
  • Account
  • Search
Lean Enterprise Institute Logo
  • Explore Lean
        • What is Lean?
        • A Brief History of Lean
        • Lexicon Terms
        • Topics to explore
          • Operations
          • Lean Product & Process Development
          • Administration & Support
          • Problem-Solving
          • Coaching
          • Executive Leadership
          • Line Management
  • The Lean Post
        • Subscribe to see exclusive content
          • Subscribe
        • Featured posts
          Job 1?

          How Lean Practitioners “See the Work” —...

          Leader trying to get other leaders to adopt Lean

          Ask Art: How Do You Motivate Managers...

          • See all Posts
  • Events & Training
        • Custom Coaching and Learning Experiences
        • Co-Learning Partnerships
        • Forms and Templates
        • Featured learning
          • Lean Leadership Forum

            July 13, 2022 | District Hall, 75 Northern Ave, Boston, MA

          • Building a Lean Operating and Management System 

            August 10, 2022 | Boston, MA

          • Lean Warehousing and Distribution Operations: Gemba-Based Workshop

            September 13, 2022 | Mercedes Benz Parts Distribution Center
            Grapevine,Texas

          • Developing Structured Problem-Solving and Leadership Skills using A3 Thinking: Managing to Learn Remotely

            September 19, 2022 | Online Live Course

          • See all Events
  • Store
        • Shopping Cart
        • Featured books
          Managing to Learn: Using the A3 management process

          Managing to Learn: Using the A3 management process

          Learning to See

          Learning to See

          • See all Books
  • About Us
        • Our people
          • Senior Advisors and Staff
          • Faculty
          • Board of Directors
        • Contact Us
        • Lean Global Network
        • Press Releases
        • In the News
        • About us

The Lean Post / Articles / Job 1?

Job 1?

Executive Leadership

Job 1?

By John Shook

May 18, 2017

Ford CEO Mark Fields just decided he needed to cut costs. Then he suddenly realized he had 1400 people he didn't need so decided to eliminate their jobs. Did he need those people two weeks ago? Will he need them two weeks from now?

FacebookTweetLinkedInEmailPrintComment

Ford CEO Mark Fields just decided he needed to cut costs. Then he suddenly realized he had 1400 people he didn’t need so decided to eliminate their jobs. Did he need those people two weeks ago? Will he need them two weeks from now? 

Who knows? I certainly don’t. I don’t think Mark knows either. Do you?

FacebookTweetLinkedInEmailPrintComment

Written by:

John Shook

About John Shook

John Shook learned about lean management while working for Toyota for 11 years in Japan and the U.S., helping it transfer production, engineering, and management systems from Japan to NUMMI and other operations around the world. While at Toyota’s headquarters, he became the company’s first American kacho (manager) in Japan.…

Read more about John Shook

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Leader trying to get other leaders to adopt Lean

Executive Leadership

Ask Art: How Do You Motivate Managers to Adopt Lean?

Article by Art Byrne

WLEI podcast UPF

Executive Leadership

What’s the Problem?: Andrew Lingel Discusses Transforming a Family Business through Knowledge, Grit, and Outrage

Podcast by Matthew Savas

karate black belt tied on someone wearing a ghee

Executive Leadership

Ask Art: How Useful is Six Sigma and the Black Belts and Green Belts that Come with It?

Article by Art Byrne

Related books

The Gold Mine (Audio CD)

The Gold Mine (Audio CD)

by Freddy Ballé and Michael Ballé

The Gold Mine Trilogy 4 Book Set

The Gold Mine Trilogy 4 Book Set

by Freddy Ballé and Michael Ballé

Related events

July 13, 2022 | District Hall, 75 Northern Ave, Boston, MA

Lean Leadership Forum

Learn more

September 19, 2022 | Online Live Course

Developing Structured Problem-Solving and Leadership Skills using A3 Thinking: Managing to Learn Remotely

Learn more

Explore topics

Executive Leadership graphic icon Executive Leadership

Subscribe to get the very best of lean thinking delivered right to your inbox

Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

©Copyright 2000-2022 Lean Enterprise Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
Lean Enterprise Institute, the leaper image, and stick figure are registered trademarks of Lean Enterprise Institute, Inc.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Learn More. ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!