July 2019 | Gemba Academy

Can We Have Too Much Scientific Thinking?

By Jon Miller - July 29th, 2019

The term scientific thinking has been used with increasing frequency in the Lean management community over the past decade. The idea is not new. There is little doubt as to its importance in continuous improvement, good management and

Reflections on a Lean Futuring Discussion

By Steve Kane - July 26th, 2019

Last week I met with a dozen Lean practitioners, leaders, consultants, and advisors for the purpose of understanding where we’re headed as both individuals and as a community. We had a very deliberate and structured discussion

GA 277 | Analyzing Gilbert’s Behavior Engineering Model with Randy Matusky

By Jessica Bush - July 25th, 2019

This week’s guest is Randy Matusky. Ron and Randy analyzed a change management model called Gilbert’s Behavior Engineering Model, which addresses six different factors that influence human performance. A MP3 audio version o

Moonshots, Rocket Science and Taking Small Steps

By Jon Miller - July 22nd, 2019

This week we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing by the Apollo 11 mission. After a sleepy half-century in which space exploration has been largely unmanned, interest in sending humans further out in space is growing at l

GA 276 | Using Lean to Enrich Lives with Ben van Asselt

By Jessica Bush - July 18th, 2019

This week’s guest is Ben van Asselt. Ron and Ben discussed the inspiring ways Ben and his team use lean at Lunet Zorg, an organization that provides services for people with intellectual disabilities. A MP3 audio version of this

The Lean Leader as Player-Coach

By Jon Miller - July 15th, 2019

Player-coaches are far less common today than they were in professional sports a few decades ago. A few notable superstar players informally perform a similar role today, but under a dedicated head coach who guide the team. In modern b

More Ways to Dig Deeper Using Five Questions

By Kevin Meyer - July 12th, 2019

On a plane the other day I listened to a Tim Ferris podcast with Chip Conley. To be honest, I’m not usually a fan of Mr. Ferris or his long format podcasts, but I do scan his guest list from time to time to look for interesting

GA 275 | Leading vs. Serving with Sarah Tilkens

By Jessica Bush - July 11th, 2019

This week’s guest is Sarah Tilkens. A Lean Manufacturing Leader at GE Healthcare, Sarah and Ron discussed the differences between mentoring, coaching, leading, and serving. A MP3 audio version of this episode is available for dow

The Guessing Game of Lean Leadership

By Jon Miller - July 8th, 2019

“Eliminate slogans and exhortations asking the workforce for zero defects” or other such improvement targets, Dr. Deming set down as one of his fourteen principles. Yet this piece of advice ignored by even the most dedicate

What Happened to Blockbuster Nights?

By Ron Pereira - July 5th, 2019

Do you remember how you felt walking into a Blockbuster store to rent some movies on a Friday night? I do. It felt wonderful… curiosity mixed with anticipation created a powerful elixir. Add in some junk food (for the kids

Month: July 2019