Lean IT

Information and Technology represent the single most significant strategic enabler in any enterprise. Lean IT, a framework for understanding and improving Information and Tech­nology, is providing a fresh and effective approach through the application of principles and methods of continuous process improvement.

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Lean IT is the application of lean thought to Information, Communication, and Technology. It’s a management system made up two key pillars: continuous process improvement and respect for people. Lean IT is ultimately a learning system using a structured and disciplined approach to solving problems and pursuing opportunities.

At its core, lean IT is about leveraging technology to deliver customer value with the least amount of effort required. In order to achieve this, we remove all unnecessary effort – ambiguity of process, avoidable mistakes, self-in­flicted variation, corrections, rework, delays, and extra steps.

We bring over 15 years of Lean IT transformation experience to your organization to position you for impactful, measurable, ad sustainable change in IT performance, engagement, and culture. Our focus is on knowledge transfer and creating an internal capability to lead and sustain your transformation in IT and beyond to the entire enterprise.

The downfalls of a results-focused approach

Focusing exclusively on results disregards the learning and behavior that produces those results. When the means are ignored and results are achieved no matter the cost, short cuts are taken, firefighting becomes the norm, and people burn out. Gains inevitably become unsustainable. This results-at-any-cost approach catches up with every organization because there is always a settlement between results and behavior.

We coach organizations to effectively improve the drivers of sustainable results – work that can only be done by those closest to the task (work process improvement) and work that must be done by management (value stream improvement). It’s not about employing the right tools; it’s really about creating an environment to encourage ideal behavior!

Our approach includes:

  1. Engaging people: leaders, managers, and associates
  2. Aligning behavior and thinking to principles
  3. Employing a learn-do-teach approach to develop in-house capability
  4. Achieving quick wins to build interest
  5. Developing appropriate core systems and tools
  6. Applying Lean, Six Sigma, and Theory of Constraints as needed
  7. Using visuals, measurements, and team dynamics to reinforce great behavior
  8. Leveraging technology and information systems to sustain positive gains