tl;dr: Suntory’s acquisition of Jim Beam highlights a classic Kaizen culture clash–where well-intended continuous improvement meets pride, identity, and tradition. The lesson for Lean leaders: improvement starts with shared purpose, psychological safety, and respect, not with telling people what to change. Kaizen, Whiskey, and Continuous Improvement Last year, I wrote a blog post about the intersection of two things I like a lot: Kaizen and whiskey: “Why Kaizen is an Important Differentiator for Japanese Whisky.” … Continue reading Kaizen, Culture Clash, and Whiskey: What Suntory & Jim Beam Teach Us About Lean Change