Managing to Learn: Using the A3 management process to solve problems, gain agreement, mentor, & lead
Published by the Lean Enterprise Institute, John Shook has a new book (available now) on the A3 problem solving process and on Lean leadership. You can download the first two chapters of the book online and see sample A3s.
Managing to Learn by Toyota veteran John Shook, reveals the thinking underlying the vital A3 management process at the heart of lean management and lean leadership. Constructed as a dialogue between a manager and his boss, the book explains how “A3 thinking” helps managers and executives identify, frame, and then act on problems and challenges. Shook calls this approach, which is captured in the simple structure of an A3 report, “the key to Toyota's entire system of developing talent and continually deepening its knowledge and capabilities.”
There is also a webinar scheduled with John. Whenever I've seen John present, I've learned a ton — more “ah ha's” per minute than any other Lean speaker out there, I think.
I have a pre-publication version of the book that I'm still reading through and will review shortly. I'm also hoping to have a podcast episode lined up with him soon, so stay tuned.
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Mark's new book is The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation.
He is also the author of Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More, the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, and the anthology Practicing Lean.
Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus.