Gotta Go Lean by Jeff Hajek

No-No’s of Lean Operations

Jeff Hajek — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:44:57 +0000

Continuous improvement is as much about not going backward as it is about making progress. Knowing what to avoid is as important as knowing what to do. While many of the items on this list of No-No’s won’t derail your Lean efforts, they do act as speed bumps that slow down progress. Improvement resources are [...]

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Jeff Hajek — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:42:29 +0000

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970), is a psychologist made famous by his Heirarchy of Needs. He proposes that people have a tiered structure of needs, and the most basic of these must be met prior to dedicating attention to more advanced, or higher-order needs. The hierarchy, from lowest to highest, includes: Physiological Needs: These are the core [...]

Leader’s Intent

Jeff Hajek — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:53:01 +0000

The military has a term called “commander’s intent”. It is a part of every mission briefing in which the commander describes success and the purpose behind what he or she wants to achieve. Unfortunately though, in any combat operation, there is a chance that a unit will find itself without its leader. Whether a simple, [...]

How Deep Is Your Team’s Talent?

Jeff Hajek — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:51:13 +0000

I am an avid Chicago fan, despite having left the area over twenty years ago. I still watch the teams whenever I can, and follow them religiously on the web. So, this year has been a huge letdown. The Bears were riding high when their star quarterback, Jay Cutler, was injured. Saying they limped to [...]

Kaizen Kit

Jeff Hajek — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:23:09 +0000

Kaizen kits are packages of tools and supplies that support continuous improvement activities. The purpose of the kit is to streamline the kaizen process by having necessary tools and supplies gathered in advance. The kit, if properly stocked with “artsy and craftsy” materials, or with tools that they would not otherwise think of, can also [...]