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Doing or calculating lean? A sensemaking perspective on workplace learning

Inge Hermanrud (Department of Organization, Management and Governance, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences – Lillehammer Campus, Lillehammer, Norway)
Ole Andreas Haukåsen (Department of Organization, Management and Governance, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences – Lillehammer Campus, Lillehammer, Norway)

Journal of Workplace Learning

ISSN: 1366-5626

Article publication date: 26 January 2023

Issue publication date: 7 March 2023

195

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss two different learning approaches to lean through a sensemaking lens.

Design/methodology/approach

This is comparative case study within one organisation, and a qualitative analysis of interview data, participative observations and documents.

Findings

Although this study found that both practices promoted lean thinking in the organisation, the “calculating lean approach” has an approach oriented towards one profession, namely, medical doctors, whereas “doing lean” has a more multi-professional-oriented approach.

Originality/value

This research enriches the literature on workplace learning in relation to lean, seen from a practice-based perspective. The authors argue that “The calculating lean approach” and its use of data presentations is best suited to persuade the powerful doctors to join, when working with small improvements. “The doing lean approach,” on the contrary, is more suited to promote more comprehensive changes from the bottom up that require a deeper understanding of lean among all the professions involved.

Keywords

Citation

Hermanrud, I. and Haukåsen, O.A. (2023), "Doing or calculating lean? A sensemaking perspective on workplace learning", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 35 No. 2, pp. 176-191. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-01-2022-0006

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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