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Lean Thinking and Organisational Learning: How Can They Facilitate Each Other?

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Understanding the Lean Enterprise

Part of the book series: Measuring Operations Performance ((MEOP))

Abstract

Academic study of both lean thinking and organisational learning has evolved and is now mature enough to warrant an in-depth review of the practices and issues of each approach. This study explores how lean thinking and organisational learning can facilitate each other’s implementation and provides a conceptual model for future research and practice. The model shows the connections between organisational learning and lean thinking which is based on three propositions: (1) single-loop learning which focuses on error detection and correction in the current management system is closer to the tool-based lean approach while double-loop learning which emphasises changing the underlying governing values in the current system is closer to the sustainability-based lean approach; (2) both single-loop and double-loop learning can be operationalised and facilitated through employing a lean culture and a range of lean tools and (3) building organisational memory and institutionalising learning are the two solutions to enhance the sustainability of lean thinking.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3EU, UK

    Qing Hu & Robert Mason

  2. Buckingham Business School, University of Buckingham, Buckingham, MK18 1EG, UK

    Pauline Found

  3. College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK

    Sharon Williams

Authors
  1. Qing Hu
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  2. Pauline Found
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  3. Sharon Williams
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  4. Robert Mason
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pauline Found .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics and Management, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    Andrea Chiarini

  2. Buckingham Business School, University of Buckingham, Buckingham, United Kingdom

    Pauline Found

  3. School of Management, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom

    Nicholas Rich

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Hu, Q., Found, P., Williams, S., Mason, R. (2016). Lean Thinking and Organisational Learning: How Can They Facilitate Each Other?. In: Chiarini, A., Found, P., Rich, N. (eds) Understanding the Lean Enterprise. Measuring Operations Performance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19995-5_3

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