Comments on: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Lean http://www.theleanlibrary.com/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-lean/ Lean books and more resources for your Lean journey! Wed, 06 Jul 2011 07:50:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ankit Patel http://www.theleanlibrary.com/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-lean/comment-page-1/#comment-254 Ankit Patel Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:09:04 +0000 http://www.theleanlibrary.com/?p=61#comment-254 When I came across this book I didn't know if it would be very different from other lean books on the market and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The book does a fantastic job to give you an intro into lean and focuses on lean as a cultural change and not a set of tools. From my own experience as the CEO of The Lean Way Consulting I can tell you that if a company doesn't realize lean is a cultural change they will fail with their lean implantation. Besides the content being great I also loved the analogies used to describe concepts and ideas. It really helps with learning the concepts if you are new and if you aren't (like myself) you can use the analogies to help others understand lean better. I gave this book along with 5 other lean books to my sales staff to read and they said that this book was hands down the best one of the bunch. I like the main message that lean is a journey and there's not just 1 way to get to your destination. If you are new to lean this is the book you should start reading. If you are in the midst of your lean journey this is an excellent supplemental source of information that may give you new perspective. When I came across this book I didn’t know if it would be very different from other lean books on the market and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The book does a fantastic job to give you an intro into lean and focuses on lean as a cultural change and not a set of tools. From my own experience as the CEO of The Lean Way Consulting I can tell you that if a company doesn’t realize lean is a cultural change they will fail with their lean implantation.

Besides the content being great I also loved the analogies used to describe concepts and ideas. It really helps with learning the concepts if you are new and if you aren’t (like myself) you can use the analogies to help others understand lean better.

I gave this book along with 5 other lean books to my sales staff to read and they said that this book was hands down the best one of the bunch.

I like the main message that lean is a journey and there’s not just 1 way to get to your destination. If you are new to lean this is the book you should start reading. If you are in the midst of your lean journey this is an excellent supplemental source of information that may give you new perspective.

]]> By: Glenn Whitfield http://www.theleanlibrary.com/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-lean/comment-page-1/#comment-253 Glenn Whitfield Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:15:23 +0000 http://www.theleanlibrary.com/?p=61#comment-253 I’ve been involved in Lean for my entire career (though when I started, we didn’t call it Lean), and found The Hitchhikers Guide To Lean to be a very refreshing look at Lean Thinking. Jamie and Andy do a great job of putting into perspective that Lean is not about the tools, but about a way of thinking. To me that is the most important part – thinking. It’s something that we don’t do enough of when approaching virtually any situation be it work related or personal. The first two words of the first chapter, “Think First” put the entire book into perspective. But let’s be clear, the type of thinking we’re talking about is not a bunch of academics sitting around the fire with cigars and brandy, trying to solve the theoretical problems of the universe. No, the type of thinking here is good ‘ole common sense. I have a problem. Let me think about how I am going to solve the problem. And when I think, it will be in a logical, common sense way, using the principles of Lean. The book also explores some of the common pitfalls of Lean. As I read through these, I found myself shaking by head in agreement having seen many of these in organizations I’ve worked. Anyone thinking about starting a Lean journey should read this chapter twice! A discussion on the importance of leadership and the differentiation with management was nicely done and serves as a reminder of how leadership is not a position, but an action. Overall, a very well written book that is essential for those just beginning their Lean journey, and an excellent reminder to those of us who have been around a while of the basic principles of Lean and what it is really about. I strongly recommend it. Nice work! Glenn I’ve been involved in Lean for my entire career (though when I started, we didn’t call it Lean), and found The Hitchhikers Guide To Lean to be a very refreshing look at Lean Thinking. Jamie and Andy do a great job of putting into perspective that Lean is not about the tools, but about a way of thinking. To me that is the most important part – thinking. It’s something that we don’t do enough of when approaching virtually any situation be it work related or personal. The first two words of the first chapter, “Think First” put the entire book into perspective.

But let’s be clear, the type of thinking we’re talking about is not a bunch of academics sitting around the fire with cigars and brandy, trying to solve the theoretical problems of the universe. No, the type of thinking here is good ‘ole common sense. I have a problem. Let me think about how I am going to solve the problem. And when I think, it will be in a logical, common sense way, using the principles of Lean.

The book also explores some of the common pitfalls of Lean. As I read through these, I found myself shaking by head in agreement having seen many of these in organizations I’ve worked. Anyone thinking about starting a Lean journey should read this chapter twice!

A discussion on the importance of leadership and the differentiation with management was nicely done and serves as a reminder of how leadership is not a position, but an action.

Overall, a very well written book that is essential for those just beginning their Lean journey, and an excellent reminder to those of us who have been around a while of the basic principles of Lean and what it is really about. I strongly recommend it.

Nice work!

Glenn

]]> By: Alan Shalloway http://www.theleanlibrary.com/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-lean/comment-page-1/#comment-252 Alan Shalloway Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:32:46 +0000 http://www.theleanlibrary.com/?p=61#comment-252 I consider myself to be very knowledgeable in lean already, actively consulting in it in the software industry. I read this book mostly because it was recommended and I liked the thoughts I'd been hearing from Jaimie on twitter (@flinchbaugh). I found it to be interesting to read and have lots of nuggets of insight. However, the reason I recommend it, is that it has the, hard to say this accurately, "being-ness" of being lean. By this, I mean that it captures the true essence of what lean is. Lean is not a set of tools (although it has tools), it is not just a set of perspectives or thought processes, although it has them. It is more about an approach to life and work. But it is not even just that attitude. It is about how one collectively takes one's knowledge and viewpoints and rolls them all together to be effective. Yes, I know I'm talking a little zenish here. :) But lean is like that (or should be when understood). But this isn't just a 'zen of lean' which might leave one looking for more tangible information. It includes this quality while giving tangible information. This is what makes this a great book. For example, the 7 wastes - a couple of quotes. "when talking about problems or opportunities, do you apply th elens of waste every time?" and "The seven wastes are not to be used as an academic exercise to see how organizations can categorize things. They comprise a specific lens companies should use every day." Now I've known the 7 wastes for years. And I've found them to be useful. And I've even done what Jaimie suggests. But I've never used the metaphor lens before, although it is spot on. He talks about using them as a lens to see our process. It's not just about eliminating the waste, it's about improving the process by eliminating the waste. Doh! I knew that, done that. But the metaphor is powerful and takes it a step further. This is just one of many examples that illustrate how the authors speak from knowledge, understanding, experience and an ability to explain and transition people. I admit to having many books on my must read books on lean. This is both a good introductory book on lean, but perhaps has a special place for those who already understand the sense of it, but can't quite get what all the excitement is about. I think this book will help you understand and I highly recommend it. I consider myself to be very knowledgeable in lean already, actively consulting in it in the software industry. I read this book mostly because it was recommended and I liked the thoughts I’d been hearing from Jaimie on twitter (@flinchbaugh). I found it to be interesting to read and have lots of nuggets of insight. However, the reason I recommend it, is that it has the, hard to say this accurately, “being-ness” of being lean. By this, I mean that it captures the true essence of what lean is. Lean is not a set of tools (although it has tools), it is not just a set of perspectives or thought processes, although it has them. It is more about an approach to life and work. But it is not even just that attitude. It is about how one collectively takes one’s knowledge and viewpoints and rolls them all together to be effective.

Yes, I know I’m talking a little zenish here. :) But lean is like that (or should be when understood). But this isn’t just a ‘zen of lean’ which might leave one looking for more tangible information. It includes this quality while giving tangible information. This is what makes this a great book. For example, the 7 wastes – a couple of quotes. “when talking about problems or opportunities, do you apply th elens of waste every time?” and “The seven wastes are not to be used as an academic exercise to see how organizations can categorize things. They comprise a specific lens companies should use every day.” Now I’ve known the 7 wastes for years. And I’ve found them to be useful. And I’ve even done what Jaimie suggests. But I’ve never used the metaphor lens before, although it is spot on. He talks about using them as a lens to see our process. It’s not just about eliminating the waste, it’s about improving the process by eliminating the waste. Doh! I knew that, done that. But the metaphor is powerful and takes it a step further.

This is just one of many examples that illustrate how the authors speak from knowledge, understanding, experience and an ability to explain and transition people. I admit to having many books on my must read books on lean. This is both a good introductory book on lean, but perhaps has a special place for those who already understand the sense of it, but can’t quite get what all the excitement is about. I think this book will help you understand and I highly recommend it.

]]>