Tag: Problem Solving

Problem Solving, Scientific Thinking, and Lean Leadership

Effective problem solving is not about quick decisions, templates, or expert opinions—it’s about shared understanding, scientific thinking, and learning at the system level. These posts explore how leaders and teams approach real problems in complex environments, from executive decision-making to daily improvement work.

Drawing on Lean thinking, Toyota practices, healthcare, manufacturing, and knowledge work, this archive emphasizes problem-solving as a leadership capability: asking better questions, testing assumptions, and building systems that make problems visible instead of hidden.

Case Study: Standardization of Anesthesia Carts Across Multiple Sites

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Today's post is a case study submitted by  Abdul N. Mansour,  Director Lean & Process Improvement at  Scottsdale (AZ) Healthcare. The material here and...

The Real Message Behind Funny Hospital Signs: Tackling Root Causes for...

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After a week of serious topics and sometimes pointed discussion, let's end with a funny sign... well wait, there's a serious story behind this...

A Great Poster in a Lean Hospital Lab – Asking Why

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As a student of Dr. W. Edwards Deming's books and teachings, I'm not a big fan of slogans and posters in the workplace. Last week,...

Guest Post: The Chain of Improvement

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Mark's note: Today's guest post is from  Dr. Mark Jaben. I first met Mark in person at  Cindy Jimmerson's Lean Healthcare West conference in...

PDSA Video from IHI

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It's alphabet soup Saturday, as this IHI PDSA video comes from a PhD, Robert Lloyd. A great basic overview (or refresher course) for anyone...

10 Key Lean Mindsets for Healthcare Leaders

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I really enjoyed having the chance to be in Cincinnati yesterday to participate in a Lean Healthcare workshop put on by TechSolve, a non-profit...

Jeffrey Liker on Toyota’s Crisis, Recalls, and the Real Test of...

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Jeffrey Liker explains why Toyota's recalls were not a failure of the Toyota Way, but a breakdown in listening, speed, and customer understanding. The...

Reader Question: Support and “First Responders” for Healthcare Professionals

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Here is a new reader question from Steve Palmreuter in Michigan. He raises a topic that I've been thinking about lately, so I'm happy...

Reader Question: Rapid Response Teams (Oops, We Don’t Have the Items)

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I received an email from a reader that I'm sharing and commenting on with permission. "Dear Mark: I am a lean coordinator for a manufacturing...

A First-Person Lean Leadership Story from John Toussaint, MD

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I've had the pleasure to work with Dr. John Toussaint, CEO of the ThedaCare Center for Healthcare Value, over the past year.  John's...

Guest Post: What Makes a Successful Lean Environment?

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Mark's note: Today's post is from a relatively new friend of my blog, introduced initially through our mutual friend, Jamie Flinchbaugh. Ankit Patel, today's...

Guest Post: Lean Lessons from the Non Profit World

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Mark's note: I consider myself very fortunate to have met Patrick Anderson during my journeys in the Lean world. Patrick is the executive director...
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