Learning to walk before we try to run: Adapting lean for the public sector

This article considers whether public sector organizations regard Lean merely as a set of tools and techniques without considering either the underlying conditions and principles or regard Lean as a philosophy. The authors analyse a series of case studies of Lean in the public sector around four themes - process-based view, focus on value, elimination of waste and employee-driven change - before considering the implementation approach taken and outcomes achieved. The outcomes were significant, but the authors warn against an implementation approach which focuses solely on Lean tools.