To read this content please select one of the options below:

Changes in communication patterns when implementing lean

Jorge Colazo (Department of Finance and Decision Sciences, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, USA)

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management

ISSN: 0265-671X

Article publication date: 13 May 2020

Issue publication date: 21 January 2021

653

Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores the changes in communication patterns when companies implement lean, and how those changes relate to implementation success.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a multiple-site case study involving four business units of a manufacturing company in South America, including two repeated measurement instances separating 24 months for approximately 600 direct workers and 65 supervisors. The analytical models include social network analysis measures and Ordinary Least Squares regression.

Findings

When companies implement lean, (1) teams have a higher frequency of communication among members; (2) teams become more decentralized; (3) teams communicate more with supervisors and (4) supervisors communicate more amongst themselves and collaborate more. Also, (5) better performing teams change more pronouncedly.

Research limitations/implications

The study contains data for four business units but within only one company, limiting the external validity of the conclusions. The sample was predominantly male. Participant attrition and other potential covariates not included in the study can be additional limitations.

Practical implications

Lean implementations could be practically helped by managers by embracing and supporting the more intense communication patterns associated with lean success, and alternatively, they could proactively detect barriers in communication by measuring how these patterns change or fail to change and try to unlock communication by working on those barriers and supply communications infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration to try to boost the chances of success.

Originality/value

This is to our knowledge the first study measuring communication networks from the point of view of team members and low-level supervisors in lean implementations. This is also the first study showing that communication patterns change more rapidly in more successful teams, and also that communication pattern changes when implementing lean can be an indicator of success.

Keywords

Citation

Colazo, J. (2021), "Changes in communication patterns when implementing lean", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 296-316. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-10-2019-0323

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles