Comments on: I Sometimes Sort of Hate My Book’s Title, I Think http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:01:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bruce Baker http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title/#comment-5148 Bruce Baker Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:17:30 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title-i-think/#comment-5148 Mark,<br />Go easy on your book's title. I took the meaning to indicate that a 'Lean Hospital' as one that had consciously put itself on the spectrum of 'Lean.' I think it means to admit the following things:<br />*that things and efforts that don't create value are waste and are generally bad things (this requires a new understanding of waste)<br />*the system as a whole and not just isolated parts should be optimized (value stream)<br />*people are smart and generally care about what they do and need to be provided an environment and one or more mechanisms for improvement (continuous improvement)<br />*speed and batch size (flow) are generally good things<br />*rapidly reactive (and simple) systems tend to outperform highly designed and complex ones (pull – pull is more than this but that is another comment)<br />* there are limits on human performance - specifically on human vigilance - the old way focused too much on the assumption that capability and willingness are all that is required to world class human performance, it ASSUMED perfect human vigilance (and when the system fails - you have a 'behavioral' issue - Robert Mager's legacy) and the new way ASSUMES willingness, respects people’s need for knowledge and respects flawed human vigilance (jidoka/respect for humanity/visuality)<br />*there must be a baseline of performance for today from which we EASILY see deviations and from this baseline we can experiment (std wrk / visuality / abnormality abvious at a glance)<br />If an organization has admitted those things, places some belief (or better yet faith) in that following those principles will lead to better results (long term orientation) and pays attention to how they are changing and improving (process orientation) then they are 'lean' in my mind. I think lean is a philosophy more than a threshold of performance. I believe that because I have faith in the FACT that if you can pull off all of the above you will cross the threshold (whatever it is) at some point. I might add that there has to be some level of execution (measured by means not ends - initially anyway) required to claim to be 'lean', i.e. it isn't enough to talk about it and hire a consultant and call somebody the Lean Manager or whatever.<br /><br />I learned a lot of this from Mitsubishi Steel mManufacturing when they were a customer and I was in a quality role. They were very patient as long as we were learning and improving contrasted to other automotive OE's who demanded 'instant perfection.' Your new boss and his colleagues helped me understand what I had learned when I read their books. Bodek bolster my faith. You and others keep me connected and learning. Thanks. It’s a good title – don’t sweat it. Mark,
Go easy on your book's title. I took the meaning to indicate that a 'Lean Hospital' as one that had consciously put itself on the spectrum of 'Lean.' I think it means to admit the following things:
*that things and efforts that don't create value are waste and are generally bad things (this requires a new understanding of waste)
*the system as a whole and not just isolated parts should be optimized (value stream)
*people are smart and generally care about what they do and need to be provided an environment and one or more mechanisms for improvement (continuous improvement)
*speed and batch size (flow) are generally good things
*rapidly reactive (and simple) systems tend to outperform highly designed and complex ones (pull – pull is more than this but that is another comment)
* there are limits on human performance – specifically on human vigilance – the old way focused too much on the assumption that capability and willingness are all that is required to world class human performance, it ASSUMED perfect human vigilance (and when the system fails – you have a 'behavioral' issue – Robert Mager's legacy) and the new way ASSUMES willingness, respects people’s need for knowledge and respects flawed human vigilance (jidoka/respect for humanity/visuality)
*there must be a baseline of performance for today from which we EASILY see deviations and from this baseline we can experiment (std wrk / visuality / abnormality abvious at a glance)
If an organization has admitted those things, places some belief (or better yet faith) in that following those principles will lead to better results (long term orientation) and pays attention to how they are changing and improving (process orientation) then they are 'lean' in my mind. I think lean is a philosophy more than a threshold of performance. I believe that because I have faith in the FACT that if you can pull off all of the above you will cross the threshold (whatever it is) at some point. I might add that there has to be some level of execution (measured by means not ends – initially anyway) required to claim to be 'lean', i.e. it isn't enough to talk about it and hire a consultant and call somebody the Lean Manager or whatever.

I learned a lot of this from Mitsubishi Steel mManufacturing when they were a customer and I was in a quality role. They were very patient as long as we were learning and improving contrasted to other automotive OE's who demanded 'instant perfection.' Your new boss and his colleagues helped me understand what I had learned when I read their books. Bodek bolster my faith. You and others keep me connected and learning. Thanks. It’s a good title – don’t sweat it.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title/#comment-5147 Mark Graban Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:06:25 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title-i-think/#comment-5147 Marc - thanks for your ideas (and thanks, especially, for hosting me in The Netherlands).<br /><br />I might have gotten sued by the LEI if I had used "Lean Thinking" in the title? :-)<br /><br />Developing a new course for the LEI, the working title is "Key Concepts of Lean in Healthcare" which better fits that pattern of language, I think. Marc – thanks for your ideas (and thanks, especially, for hosting me in The Netherlands).

I might have gotten sued by the LEI if I had used "Lean Thinking" in the title? :-)

Developing a new course for the LEI, the working title is "Key Concepts of Lean in Healthcare" which better fits that pattern of language, I think.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Marc Rouppe van der Voort http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title/#comment-5146 Marc Rouppe van der Voort Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:56:13 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title-i-think/#comment-5146 Hi Mark,<br /><br />First off, thank you again for your visit to our hospital in June, it was a rich experience.<br /><br />I remember discussing this with you, great that you continue reflecting on what lean really refers to. I agree with you that lean isn't a state to be reached but a journey, that's why I like the title of Jeffrey Liker: The Toyota Way. <br /><br />I think 'lean hospitals' is a good title considering the interest of the readers, but if you would want to choose I title that better reflects the journey, you could consider titles like: <br />'lean thinking in hospitals' <br />or<br />'lean principles for hospitals'<br /><br /><br />Marc Rouppe van der Voort<br />St. Elisabeth Hospital, Netherlands Hi Mark,

First off, thank you again for your visit to our hospital in June, it was a rich experience.

I remember discussing this with you, great that you continue reflecting on what lean really refers to. I agree with you that lean isn't a state to be reached but a journey, that's why I like the title of Jeffrey Liker: The Toyota Way.

I think 'lean hospitals' is a good title considering the interest of the readers, but if you would want to choose I title that better reflects the journey, you could consider titles like:
'lean thinking in hospitals'
or
'lean principles for hospitals'

Marc Rouppe van der Voort
St. Elisabeth Hospital, Netherlands

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title/#comment-5144 Mark Graban Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:15:30 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title-i-think/#comment-5144 I'm not wringing my hands or worrying about it too much. Just thought it made for an interesting discussion point around "what is lean?" and "who is lean?"<br /><br />I don't regret the title... you gotta sell books and this was squarely targeted at those who are interested in lean.<br /><br />You could write a similar book that avoids the word lean too.<br /><br />I came up with the title, my editor and publisher didn't fight me on the title.<br /><br />We did have different ideas about covers... the cover was my own concept (I found the graphic) and I was very insistent that lean be pictured as a friendly and satisfied team, since that's what a lean environment should be like. I'm not wringing my hands or worrying about it too much. Just thought it made for an interesting discussion point around "what is lean?" and "who is lean?"

I don't regret the title… you gotta sell books and this was squarely targeted at those who are interested in lean.

You could write a similar book that avoids the word lean too.

I came up with the title, my editor and publisher didn't fight me on the title.

We did have different ideas about covers… the cover was my own concept (I found the graphic) and I was very insistent that lean be pictured as a friendly and satisfied team, since that's what a lean environment should be like.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Jason M http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title/#comment-5143 Jason M Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:29:12 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title-i-think/#comment-5143 Mark,<br /><br />To be honest I think you're overanalyzing it. The goal of a book title is to help sell the book. That's it. Good book titles are simple yet intriguing...just enough to perk the interest of a potential buyer. Off the top of my head I came up with:<br /><br />"The Secrets of Achieving World-Class Performance in Hospitals"<br /><br />or<br /><br />"Saving Lives: How the Best Hospitals on the Globe Achieve World-Class Performance"<br /><br />Notice I didn't even put the word "lean" in there. Put "lean" in the subtitle.<br /><br />Obviously the other consideration is to use keywords in the title, subtitle, and description that will generate the most hits when people browse Amazon. So the question is, who will most likely purchase your book and what type of search terms will they use?<br /><br />In the end, your publisher should have the best ideas on book titles. Mark,

To be honest I think you're overanalyzing it. The goal of a book title is to help sell the book. That's it. Good book titles are simple yet intriguing…just enough to perk the interest of a potential buyer. Off the top of my head I came up with:

"The Secrets of Achieving World-Class Performance in Hospitals"

or

"Saving Lives: How the Best Hospitals on the Globe Achieve World-Class Performance"

Notice I didn't even put the word "lean" in there. Put "lean" in the subtitle.

Obviously the other consideration is to use keywords in the title, subtitle, and description that will generate the most hits when people browse Amazon. So the question is, who will most likely purchase your book and what type of search terms will they use?

In the end, your publisher should have the best ideas on book titles.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Peter P Patterson, MD MBA http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title/#comment-5142 Peter P Patterson, MD MBA Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:47:59 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/i-sometimes-sort-of-hate-my-books-title-i-think/#comment-5142 It's gratifying to see the degree of humility you continue to bring as you become world-famous -- no, I'm not kidding actually.<br /><br />If I understand your angst, you have a concern that the title and subtitle of the book in some ways have undesired implications -- tending to hold people to impossible standards. You certainly can't argue with the number of copies sold in worldwide distribution this first year.<br /><br />Personally, I think the title and subtitle are great. It is my understanding that many authors, both fiction and nonfiction, don't get to choose the title of their book. In many cases this decision is reserved to the publisher and often the title is chosen by the publisher’s marketing people to reflect what will sell rather than what speaks authentically to the reason for the book.<br /><br />With regard to the 50% versus 5% better, remember that our hospitals in general are very early in their lean journeys compared to the benchmark Toyota who have been at it for more than 50 years.<br /><br />To respond to your final question, if it were mine to choose, the title and subtitle might be:<br /><br />Lean Hospitals: Simultaneously Perfecting Patient Care, Financial Performance and Employee Development.<br /><br />On the other hand, why mess with a good thing? <br />/Dr. Pete It's gratifying to see the degree of humility you continue to bring as you become world-famous — no, I'm not kidding actually.

If I understand your angst, you have a concern that the title and subtitle of the book in some ways have undesired implications — tending to hold people to impossible standards. You certainly can't argue with the number of copies sold in worldwide distribution this first year.

Personally, I think the title and subtitle are great. It is my understanding that many authors, both fiction and nonfiction, don't get to choose the title of their book. In many cases this decision is reserved to the publisher and often the title is chosen by the publisher’s marketing people to reflect what will sell rather than what speaks authentically to the reason for the book.

With regard to the 50% versus 5% better, remember that our hospitals in general are very early in their lean journeys compared to the benchmark Toyota who have been at it for more than 50 years.

To respond to your final question, if it were mine to choose, the title and subtitle might be:

Lean Hospitals: Simultaneously Perfecting Patient Care, Financial Performance and Employee Development.

On the other hand, why mess with a good thing?
/Dr. Pete

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]>