ABSTRACT
Applying Lean thinking and agile techniques (Lean and agile) to government implies a new attitude that examines complex bureaucratic systems with the intent of simplifying procedures and reducing waste. Internationally, as well as domestically, awareness of the government infrastructure is necessary before attempting to initiate a process improvement. The hierarchy, hiring policy, and labor responsibilities need to be considered as well. Paying attention to diversity and remembering Lean principles will ensure Lean and agile success. A basic premise of Lean thinking is to study the value of the work people do and directly connect it to the quality of service provided for the citizen. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a strong advocate of Lean and agile. The EPA recently published several successful case studies. Lean and agile, like Lean Six Sigma, takes full advantage of other business management tools that include balanced scorecard, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis and benchmarking theory.
