ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses ways continuous improvement presents change management challenges and presents several challenges often associated with lean implementations. Organizations with the proper focus have found ways to overcome most challenges. The good news is that there are multitudes of strategies for mastering a lean culture change. New leadership dynamics require changes from traditional practices in all aspects of how the organization functions to send a message that truly permeates the culture. One of the biggest challenges in dealing with a culture change of any kind is measuring progress in a way that identifies areas of success and those that need attention. Comments lack real context unless explored for meaning through dialogue, which in turn offers examples and reveals what respondents would like to see changed. Discipline, poorly handled, is an enemy of psychological safety and must be actively eliminated for an organization to truly have an improvement culture.
