Introduction

I've been given a unique opportunity to facilitate the implementation of Lean Methods in a 40 person Information and Communication Technology (ICT) organisation. I thought it would be a good idea to keep a journal of our experiences as we embark upon this experiment, primarily to have a historical record for retrospectives.

Then I realised that if this journal was in the form of a blog it would also be a good way to communicate to all the stakeholders involved, from the staff performing the work to the executives managing the operation. The blog could be used to explain what Lean is, why we are doing it, how we're going about it, what we tried that worked well, and what didn't work so well. The blog could also be used to record the challenges we faced and, more importantly, how we overcame each challenge.

But, then I realised that there would be value in sharing this journal with the rest of the world, or at least those interested enough to read the rambling musings here. Perhaps others would be willing to share their ideas and experiences as well, as comments on this blog or maybe as postings of their own. Also, I think that what we're doing really says something about the people involved. I want to publicly acknowledge their willingness to innovate, to step outside their comfort zones and try something new in the spirit of continuous improvement.

So, here we go. The journey is about to begin. Come join us!