ABSTRACT

One of the success factors of a Lean information technology (IT) transformation is building a common basis among everyone within the IT organization. This common basis is made up of definitions, knowledge and stories. The Lean IT Association defines Lean IT as: Lean IT is the extension of Lean manufacturing and Lean services principles to the development and management of information technology products and services. Its goal is to continuously improve the value delivered by IT organizations to their customers, and the professionalism of people working in IT. One interesting aspect of Lean is that despite the similarities between the application of Lean principles in manufacturing, healthcare or other services, there are differences. Initially, the term Lean was synonymous with what is called Lean Manufacturing. As Lean principles were applied to industries other than manufacturing, variations such as Lean Services, Lean Healthcare, Lean Government and of course, Lean IT developed.