Lean Articles

Lean in government, a comeback?

A recent Lean Day brought to light the immense potential of lean thinking applied to government. After a few sleepy years, is lean in public administration back?

The lean candidate

Have you ever considered how lean thinking can be applied to politics? The author explains how the outcome of a mayoral election in southern Italy was ultimately determined by the lean approach adopted by one of the candidates.

São Paulo overpass illustrates a management rule: "forgotten" problems will one day be remembered

If you think your company has problems that people have “gotten used to living with”, be careful

Spending more than you earn is a management flaw; presidential candidates seem to ignore it

Given what the presidential candidates are saying, one question almost always goes unanswered: where would the resources come from to deliver everything that is promised?

After the tragic destruction of the National Museum, Brazilian public management keeps “putting out fires”

The museum was a victim of management that only truly faces problems once they have become too big. Many companies follow the same path

As in companies, the electoral debate must focus on causes, not just symptoms

Every election is always the same. But candidates should focus on the causes of the country’s ills rather than the symptoms

Disconnected management flows are the main cause of the building collapse in São Paulo

Processes in public administration traditionally run in silos, but they need to be completely reviewed and connected

Steel and aluminum tariffs are typical “anti-management” protectionism

The incentive for local steelmakers to improve their management models becomes lukewarm, or even cold

Letter from 23 Nobel laureates to Temer: companies have a similar problem

Responding to crises by cutting things that have no immediate consequence but jeopardize the future happens not only in government but also in companies

Companies need to (and can) do their part to “turn the tide” on corruption

There are always choices, as long as you have solid principles and the determination to face the consequences

What would lean retail look like?

Operation Weak Flesh: a management model can be the seed of corruption

An “anything goes” approach to getting results – whatever the cost – creates fertile ground for misconduct and unethical behavior