ABSTRACT
As technologists, it is sometimes easier to think about lean as a means to improve the processes that enable the work of IT. Standup meetings, visual management, and other tools often focus on processes that facilitate technical tasks. Those are valuable things to focus on, but they are only part of the story. Creating a lean system of operational excellence in an organization mandates applying the principles and tools to all aspects of the work. Problem solving applies as much to fixing a slow page load for a website or selecting the appropriate technology for deploying infrastructure as it does to determining why there is a communication breakdown between the business and IT. Many consultants and companies have made progress in attempting to bridge the gaps between different methodologies, practices, and philosophies. Through frameworks, certifications, and training seminars, connections and understanding have been built, but nothing has been able to completely stop the fighting.
