Avoiding the Dunning-Kruger Trap in Lean: Lessons from Early Mistakes
The blog postIn this episode, Mark explores how the Dunning-Kruger effect shows up in Lean—especially after a first belt course, workshop, or book. Early enthusiasm can turn into overconfidence, creat...
6 Sep 20256min
How a Vineyard “Improvement” Nearly Destroyed European Wine — and What We Can Learn from It
The blog postSometimes an “improvement” makes things worse. The Germans even have a word for it: verschlimmbesserung.In this episode, Mark Graban shares the story of how a well-intentioned fix to Euro...
4 Sep 202510min
Kaizen Alone Isn’t Enough: Why Leaders Must Fix the System for Real Improvement
The blog postToo often, leaders think that if they simply “get everyone doing Kaizen,” performance will automatically improve. While daily improvement is essential, some problems are too deeply rooted...
2 Sep 20258min
Einstein’s Favorite Mistake — and What It Teaches Us About Lean Thinking
The blog postAlbert Einstein once called the “cosmological constant” the biggest blunder of his life. But what if that so-called mistake actually holds timeless lessons for leaders today?In this episo...
30 Aug 20257min
Join Me at AME St. Louis 2025 for an Interactive Workshop on Better Metrics and Better Management
the blog postIn this episode, Mark Graban previews his upcoming half-day workshop at the AME St. Louis 2025 International Conference: The Deming Red Bead Game and Process Behavior Charts: Practical Ap...
28 Aug 20254min
Beyond Tools: Why Lean Healthcare Depends on Respect and Continuous Improvement
the blog postWhat does Lean healthcare really mean? It’s more than tools like 5S, A3s, or huddle boards. Lean is a management system that depends on two pillars: respect for people and continuous impr...
26 Aug 202510min
Three Ways Pressure Warps Performance Metrics–and What Leaders Must Do Instead
The blog postAccurate data is essential in any system–for diagnosing problems, guiding decisions, and driving improvement. But when leaders react poorly to uncomfortable data, the message often gets b...
24 Aug 202511min
Almost 17 Years Later: Reflections on Lean Hospitals and the Journey of Improvement
The blog postIt's hard to believe, but it's been almost 17 years since the first edition of Lean Hospitals was published–an effort that eventually received the Shingo Research and Professional Publica...
22 Aug 20257min
