Agile vs Lean vs Design Thinking

 

3 methodologies.
3 different strengths.

All essential for different moments.

Here's what each actually does:

💡 Agile builds software that adapts as you learn.
Sprint by sprint.
Feature by feature.
Feedback loop by feedback loop.

💡 Lean strips waste from any process.
Less inventory.
Less waiting.
More value delivered faster.

💡 Design Thinking starts with human needs.
Watch. Listen. Prototype.
Test with real humans.

Real-world applications that show the difference.

Startup examples:

Agile: Spotify's 2-week sprints ship 1000+ updates daily
Lean: Toyota eliminated 7 types of waste, became #1
Design Thinking: IDEO redesigned shopping carts by
watching shoppers struggle

Enterprise transformations:

Agile: ING dissolved departments for 2500+ squads
Lean: GE Six Sigma saved $12 billion in 5 years
Design Thinking: IBM trained 100,000+ employees,
added $20M revenue

The practical breakdown:

When Agile shines:
→ Digital products need constant updates
→ Customer needs shift monthly
→ Teams need clear 2-week goals

When Lean dominates:
→ Processes have too many steps
→ Costs spiral out of control
→ Speed to market matters most

When Design Thinking wins:
→ Users struggle but can't say why
→ Innovation needs a human spark
→ Problems are complex and fuzzy

Here's how they complement each other:

Design Thinking discovers what to build.
Lean ensures you build it efficiently.
Agile helps you build it adaptively.

Each methodology asks different questions:

Agile: "What can we ship in 2 weeks?"
Lean: "What step adds no value?"
Design Thinking: "What does the user really need?"

Together they create something powerful:

Products people love.
Built efficiently.
Delivered continuously.

Master one and you solve problems.

Master all three and you transform organizations.

Which methodology fits your current challenge?

Credits to Christian Rebernik, make sure to follow!

https://tinyurl.com/4tu5ytee

Daily Discipline for Production Leaders

 

Leadership on the shop floor isn’t about firefighting—it’s about building habits that drive consistency and results.

Leader Standard Work (LSW) is your structured path to operational excellence. Why? Because what gets standardized gets done!

Here’s how top-performing production leaders stay ahead:

📌 Start the day with clarity: Shift briefings and production board reviews keep the team aligned.
📌 Drive accountability: Daily checks on safety, quality, and PPE compliance reduce risks.
📌 Think beyond today: Weekly KPI trend reviews (OEE, FPY, downtime) and root cause analysis prevent recurring issues.
📌 Build capability: Scheduling operator training and leading kaizen initiatives turn problems into opportunities.
📌 Celebrate progress: Recognize team efforts—it fuels engagement and continuous improvement.

LSW isn’t just a checklist; it’s the rhythm that transforms leadership from reactive to proactive.

Lean Leadership: The Importance of Standard Work

In any organization, leadership plays a critical role in driving success. In the lean world, leadership is particularly important as it sets the tone for the organization’s culture and approach to continuous improvement. One critical tool in the lean leader’s arsenal is standard work, which helps to ensure that processes are consistent, repeatable, and efficient.

Standard work is a set of instructions that outline the best way to perform a particular task. These instructions include the sequence of steps, the required tools and equipment, and the expected outcomes. By creating standard work, organizations can ensure that processes are performed consistently, reducing variability and waste.

But standard work is not just about creating instructions. It’s also about ensuring that these instructions are followed consistently. This is where lean leadership comes in. Leaders must commit to standard work and set an example for others. They must also ensure that standard work is communicated clearly and employees are trained to follow it. By doing so, they can help to establish a culture of continuous improvement and drive success.

So, how can lean leaders create and maintain effective standard work? Here are some key steps:

1. Identify the processes that require standard work: Start by identifying the key processes in your organization that require standard work. These may include production processes, administrative processes, or other key activities.
2. Create clear and concise instructions: Once you have identified the processes that require standard work, create clear and concise instructions that outline the best way to perform each task. These instructions should be easy to understand and follow.
3. Train employees on standard work: Once you have created standard work instructions, ensure they are trained to follow them. This may involve classroom training, on-the-job training, or a combination of both.
4. Monitor adherence to standard work: Once standard work is in place, it’s important to monitor adherence to ensure that processes are being followed consistently. This may involve regular audits or other monitoring activities.
5. Continuously improve standard work: Finally, it’s important to improve it. As processes change or new opportunities for improvement arise, standard work instructions may need to be updated to reflect these changes.

In conclusion, standard work is critical for any organization looking to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and drive success. By creating and maintaining effective standard work, lean leaders can help establish a continuous improvement culture and set their organization on a path to long-term success.

https://tinyurl.com/57ryx7ak