While lean strategies and concepts were first developed in the manufacturing world, they have far-reaching benefits in almost any other field. One field that has seen tremendous value from lean strategies in recent years is healthcare. When it comes to lean integrations in healthcare, it’s less about cutting costs and more about reducing issues in [...]
The phrase “that’s how it’s always been done” has likely shown up at least once in your career. In the past, this phrase was less a way to avoid innovation and more a stance of pride. What we built worked then, so it will work now. However, with creative and technological advances in everything from [...]
Lean Thinking vs. Old Thinking Every company, from small startups to major corporations, routinely hits plateaus in their company’s continued success. This is an opportunity for companies to analyze what’s working (or what to keep) and what’s not working (or what to change). The difference between companies who continue their success and those who don’t [...]
The Roots of Lean While the birth of Lean is attributed to Motorola in the 1980s, many of today's lean practices have roots as far back as the early 1900s. Lillian Gilbreth, widely considered one of the first industrial/organizational psychologists, was also one of the first female engineers to earn a Ph.D. in psychology. Using her [...]
The Importance of Employee Motivation The workplace is changing, and employee motivation is at the forefront of these changes. It wasn't long ago that remaining at the same company through retirement despite the work environment was the standard. Today, however, people want more. Where pay and benefits used to be king, people now require a company [...]
Audits and assessments are crucial for running an effective and profitable business. While they may seem overwhelming, they are some of the most effective strategies for creating value and improving the efficiency of an organization. The difference between audits and assessments may seem subtle, but both tools drive impressive results. Audits Unlike a financial audit, a [...]
Imaginative Play As children, our naturally inquisitive minds are designed for imaginative play. Depending on how you slice the data, children ask an average of 69 to 107 questions each hour they are engaged in conversation with adults. Our minds are little sponges, soaking up every piece of information we can get our hands-on. Then, instead [...]
Imagine you’ve just stepped onto a plane for an overseas flight. You stow away your luggage, slide into your seat, and settle in for the long trip. As part of the captain's announcements, he mentions that this is his first overseas flight. "But not to worry," he says, "I've had hundreds of hours of classroom training." [...]
Imagine you are enjoying a leisurely stroll through the forest. The path winds around fragrant rose bushes and wildflowers and cuts through towering oak and maple trees. Your mind is free to wander as it pleases. It uses its imagination and creativity to daydream or think up new ideas. As you follow the winding path around [...]
Big life decisions, like applying for a new job, having kids, or starting your own company require a more sophisticated decision making process. These decisions require research, weighing the costs and benefits, and perhaps even consulting with loved ones or other professionals. Sometimes, we can easily acquire these resources to quickly identify the best choice for [...]
