Title: Lean leadership: a matter of dualism

Authors: Bengt Halling; Jonas Renström

Addresses: Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Sweden; Center for Logistics and Innovative Production, University of Gävle, Sweden; School of Technology and Health, The Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden ' Center for Logistics and Innovative Production, University of Gävle, Sweden; School of Technology and Health, The Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

Abstract: On the basis of previous literature, this study takes a snowball approach to identify people influential on the topics through their writings. The aim was to conceptualise leadership and management in regard to lean, thus increasing understanding of the roles of leadership and management in lean development. The findings showed that leadership and management are two different but complementary action systems, similar to the duality of Toyota's two foundational principles: respect for people and continuous improvement. Differentiating between leadership and management is important in order to meet organisational needs during a lean implementation; each has complementary functions. Practical implications include the need to further train managers in leadership and to work within organisational culture to influence on-the-job behaviour. This lack of leadership competence may be one reason companies tend to address lean as a toolbox rather than an enterprise-wide system that covers all its operations and entails cultural and behaviour standards.

Keywords: lean leadership; lean management; leadership competence; complementary; Toyota way; organisational effectiveness; lean development; organisational culture; on-the-job behaviour; duality; snowball approach; enterprise-wide systems; human resources.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2014.069355

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2014 Vol.14 No.4, pp.242 - 253

Accepted: 04 Jan 2015
Published online: 13 May 2015 *

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