Lean Operations: A Literature Overview
August 2023
At the request of an ABA ballet member, we developed an overview of literature on Lean Operations with an eye toward application in the arts. The overview is divided into three sections:
A high-level overview of lean thinking.
Perspectives on Lean as applied in not-for-profit/arts contexts.
An overview of Agile Management as an alternative or complement to Lean.
In general, the thinking goes that Lean applies to making stable, repeatable processes more efficient (e.g., putting on a production, managing Development activities) and Agile focuses on improving speed and outcome of innovation. In contrast to Lean management, Agile is more about replacing top-down management hierarchies, a concept arts organizations are also exploring within the context of DE&I activities.
To be embraced broadly, either approach requires significant adjustment in organizational mindsets and approach to work, so neither should be adopted lightly. That said, it’s possible to adopt either approach in parts of the organization or to achieve certain objectives, which may be the best way to get started.
ABA members can download the overview by clicking below.