Joseph Dager

I see statements from the Lean Startup^TM folks that The Lean Startup is changing everything. I think that is rather silly because it is not The Lean Startup that is causing the change. The Lean Startup is just adapting to the way the world is changing.

Lean works well for groups that do not rely on an external environment to function, ones that can be self-reflective and internally focused on improvement. However, that business model is getting smaller and smaller. The rapid expansion of knowledge is decreasing the advantages of past proprietary offerings in product/service and in operations. What is...

In a recent LinkedIn thread, What do we have to do to have Lean survive a leadership change?, I found most of the comments following the age old line that the reason for Lean failures can always be summed up in one word, leadership. I even left the following comment; “My first thought when I read this thread: Will Lean continue to blame leadership even when they are dead and gone?” Leadership is responsible, however, I think Lean has to step to the table and take some responsibility of its own. The comments made me reflect on 2 recent books published. I think they sum up the answer.

If Lean is to sustained through a leadership change, I believe that Lean Thinking needs to address the issues of leadership better. Many in the Lean world jump into the operational issues...

Some believe The Death of Innovation, the End of Growth is here. Others believe it is a race against technology, The Key to Growth? Race with the Machines. I believe growth is not easy. However, why not simplify the process and use an established methodology, a way of thinking to your business. Don’t leave a good idea fail because of a poor process. Processes are not easy. Change is not easy. Lean will not offer you a step by step process to make growth work. As Michael Jordan said, “If you want a guarantee, go buy a toaster.” It does offer you a better opportunity. Below is the Lean Scale Up Infographic that serves as a visual overview of my blogs this past week and a description of a Lean Scale -up.

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In this week when we are talking about growth can we ignore the fact that it is more difficult to grow than it has been. The US economy has been expanding wildly for two centuries. It is no longer growing, in fact the last seven years there has been a decline.  Robert J. Gordon is among the most influential macroeconomists in the world.

From a recent Ted Talk, Gordon lays out 4 reasons US growth may be slowing, detailing factors like epidemic debt and growing inequality, which could move the US into a period of stasis we can’t innovate our way out of.

The opposing viewpoint from Erik Brynjolfsson on tomorrows blog.