GA 104 | How to Apply Lean to Your State with Alison Fisher

Today’s episode features Alison Fisher, the Program Director of Lean CT. Alison oversees the lean efforts for the entire state of Connecticut, which is obviously no small feat. It was fascinating to hear her take on how lean can be applied to the government. An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Alison’s background and how she first learned about continuous improvement (2:46)
• The quote that inspires Alison (9:10)
• Connecticut’s approach to lean thinking (10:40)
• A story about Value Stream Mapping and fish (13:25)
• What happens when an agency requests funding (17:15)
• About Alison’s work with LEI and other states (22:02)
• How to get Alison’s advice (24:31)
• What “Respect for People” means to Alison (25:50)
• The best advice Alison has ever received (27:01)
• Alison’s personal productivity habit (27:43)
• What has surprised Alison in her last year of practicing lean (28:15)
• How Alison refocuses and recharges (30:48)
• The knowledge or skill area Alison feels she needs to improve (33:55)

Podcast Resources

• Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
• Download a Free Audio Book at Audible.com
• Lean CT  
• Alison’s Email

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What Do You Think?

In what other ways can lean be applied to government, whether at the local, city, state, or federal levels?

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