DailyKaizen

In my last post I mentioned our discussion last week in regards to human resources and how it is viewed differently in a Lean organization.  Well that discussion has gotten stuck in my head and I have thought a lot about it over the last couple of days.  When I think about what makes great organizations stand out from good organizations the answer is simple: the engagement of the people that work there.  I believe that almost all organizations are collections of very smart, good intentioned individuals that desire the opportunity to provide a meaningful contribution.  Yet, few organizations have figured out how to put the right management systems in place to create this type opportunity for their employees.    Instead, they are mired in their traditional management practices that look at people as costs, and like with all costs the need to be tightly controlled. 

In the Model Line area we have been working hard at shifting our management systems to align them with the principles of respect for people.  It has been hard and often slow work, because you cannot build trust overnight and employees have learned to maneuver many changes in the past so they are cautious of anyone saying that this will be any different.  Still, it is beginning to take hold in almost all of the teams that we are working with.  Managers and staff are far more vested in improving their work then they ever have been before.  Capable employees are being allowed to not just use their hands, but also their minds to make a difference and as a result their engagement is creeping upwards.  By continuing to tap into the thinking of our employees we have a great opportunity to create a competitive advantage that none of our competitors could copy.

I believe our work and learning’s in the Model Line area is beginning to influence the larger organization as it moves forward in developing it long-term strategic plans.  Our organization, like most is searching for ways to reduce cost in order to remain viable.  As a result there is a lot of discussions on how to cut back on resource allocations, which may be appropriate, but not complete.  I think there are some short-term resource decisions that need to be made in order to cut costs.  More importantly, as the Model Line has taught us the only sustainable strategy is to invest in the right resources: our people.  And to do it with a long-term focus.  All other resources are scarce, but human resources if tapped are limitless.

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