Discover a Better Way to Lead and Manage
Welcome to the Lean Enterprise Institute — a nonprofit education, publishing, and research organization that helps individuals and organizations solve problems and create more value. We believe the work of management is to develop people and improve systems, not just to deliver results.
What Is Lean Thinking and Practice?
Lean thinking is a practical way to succeed amid today’s and tomorrow’s business challenges. Born from Toyota’s legendary business system, lean focuses on what truly creates—for customers, employees, owners—in the short and long-term. It has evolved into a globally adopted approach for sustainably driving performance and creating innovation by engaging people in continuous learning and improvement.
Lean practice leverages ‘tried and true’ tools to enhance how leaders think and behave. Essentially, it’s about developing people who can solve problems every day in their own work for the sake of organizational success. Learn more »
What Is a Lean Management System?
A Lean Management System connects purpose, process, and people. It includes:
- Daily Management: Creating stability and clear expectations through routines like leader standard work, tiered huddles, and visual metrics.
- Problem Solving: Building capability using A3 thinking to deeply understand problems and coach people in root cause countermeasures.
- Strategy Deployment (Hoshin Kanri): Aligning big goals with daily work in a focused, adaptive way.
At its heart, a Lean Management System is not a set of tools—it’s how leaders lead. It’s how you create conditions for others to succeed.
FEATURED BOOK:
Managing on Purpose
Does your organization struggle to achieve consistent business results? Do you set strategic goals but fail to see them translate into measurable outcomes? Are your teams disconnected from the execution of strategic priorities?
If so, Managing on Purpose introduces the hoshin kanri methodology—a proven system for aligning strategy with execution, enabling sustainable results across the organization.
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Explore More About Lean Thinking and Practice
From executive coaching in strategy development, deployment, and alignment to engaging employees to create a culture of problem-solving and everything in between, see how lean thinking and practice can elevate your organization’s performance.
Case Studies
Want to Build Your Own Lean Management System?
Join the Lean Management Program to learn how to design and implement a Lean Management System in your organization—from daily management to strategic alignment. Learn from real companies. Practice with real challenges. Leave with the mindset and tools to lead differently.
Take the leap. Start managing on purpose.
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