Lean, kata and management systems

For more than a quarter of a century, the Lean management approach has been gaining ground in a wide range of organizations. The subject is well documented, but this book takes an innovative look at it all, taking you to the very foundations of Lean. Professionals, managers and executives will benefit from these reflections on the management system associated with Lean and, more generally, on the problem-solving approach and scientific thinking based on improvement kata and coaching kata.

The book also contains the stories of fifteen organizations (ten of which are in the health and social services sector) that have embarked on the transformation of their management systems, with the aim of establishing a culture of continuous improvement. These stories show different ways of orchestrating a Lean transformation or implementing certain elements of it. The experiences described are rich in lessons and will inspire both organizations wishing to follow suit and adopt the Lean approach, and those already applying these management principles, with all the challenges they entail.

The tone of the book is more reflective than theoretical. The stories, which are in the same vein, will certainly lead managers to ask themselves many questions. At the same time, the case studies will give teachers and students alike plenty to talk about in class, as they illustrate how the concepts and principles associated with Lean materialize in practice.