ABSTRACT
An example of a differentiation in the Toyota Production System (TPS) is the role of leadership. The leadership role in TPS is to create a positive vision that is compelling, inspiring, imaginative, and exhilarating. A leadership theory that best describes Toyota’s approach in defining a clear vision of TPS is participative leadership theory. TPS favors the higher-order needs of esteem and self-actualization because the needs of competence, mastery, and control rest more on the inner self. Familiar to the theme of continuous improvement, Toyota has defined TPS as a way for employees to reach their full potential while having personal control in improving their jobs in the workplace. The ultimate goal in TPS is to get all levels of the organization and groups to perform workplace study voluntarily. Leadership has the role of removing roadblocks that are stopping the achievement of TPS and to increase the confidence of members along the way.
