First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 13, 2011

The Toyota Way Jeffrey Liker McGraw-Hill (2003) To understand Toyota’s success, first understand its DNA I read this book when it was first published in 2004 and recently re-read it, curious to know how well Jeffrey Liker’s explanation of Toyota’s management principles and lean production values have held up.

Lean Production 80

Lean Production Books Review Productivity 80

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 13, 2011

After a decade of painstaking research, we have concluded that American firms are on average the best managed in the world. But while Americans are bad at football (or soccer, as it's known as locally), they are the Brazilians of Management. This has allowed us to create the first global database of management practices.

Management 20

Management Survey Class Lean Production 20

Harvard Business Review

MAY 26, 2016

Traditional mass manufacturing is based on principles of “Scientific Management” that date back to the 19th century. Workers specialize in simple, highly routinized operations. They are incentivized to complete operations as quickly as possible. Managers hold virtually all decision-making authority.

Lean Manufacturing 13

Lean Manufacturing Supply Chain Apparel Compliance 13

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 23, 2012

The organizational and operational benefits of targeted testing are not. At one telecoms company with a disappointing history of troubled upgrades and delayed rollouts, I saw a key innovation team present its testing program and testing reviews to senior management. These pathologies are nothing new. Jaws dropped.

Leadership 15

Leadership Innovation Lean Production Learning-by-Doing 15

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 28, 2011

While in Kansai, Japan's second economic engine based around the city of Osaka, I found things operating pretty much as normal. Japan is famous for its lean production systems and efficient supply chains. The most serious failure, though, has been the management of TEPCO. Which cycle will emerge next?

Supply Chain 15

Supply Chain Long-term Lean Production Globalization 15

Harvard Business Review

JULY 27, 2015

companies were making progress on the operations front, but now they seem to have lost their way—and business schools are in a position to help set them right again. In the 1980s, our organizations learned a great deal about how to improve productivity, quality, and costs from Japanese practices. A few decades ago, U.S.

Lean Production 8

Lean Production Operations Health Care Talent Management 8

Harvard Business Review

FEBRUARY 25, 2014

The most important way to mitigate risk is to become excellent at either engineering, product, selling, or operations and management. Lean Product Development and Customer Development processes) decreases the chance of a startup’s failure. Develop deep expertise — your best risk-mitigation strategy .

Career 10

Career Company IPO Christensen 10