This document discusses moving from a traditional deficit-based approach to Lean Six Sigma towards a more strength-based approach using Appreciative Inquiry. It outlines three generations of Lean Six Sigma according to David Shaked, with the third generation focusing on integrating personal strengths, passions, and flow. The document tells a story of a Kaizen Blitz and encourages the audience to dream about possibilities for continuous improvement in the third generation approach.

1. INSPIRING CHANGE
Crossing Improvement Borders
with Strength based Lean
European AI Network Meeting
Hasselt, Belgium
Theo van den Eijnden
20 May 2016

2. INSPIRING CHANGE
My story with AI and Lean Six Sigma
2007 First encounter with Appreciative Inquiry
2008 Masterclass David Cooperrider
2008 Green Belt Lean Six Sigma
2009 Introducing The AI Experience Day
2011 Meeting David Shaked
2012 World AI conference Ghent workshop David Shaked and David Hansen
2013 Strength based Kaizen Blitz
2014 -2015-2016 Working together with David Shaked

3. INSPIRING CHANGE
Question…
‘How many people in quality and efficiency driven organisations
are actually truly engaged with Lean Six Sigma efforts when you
look beyond the green/black/master black belts, kaizen facilitators,
the deployment champions and the business leadership?’

4. Intervention Focus Identified problem Affirmative topics
Participation Selective inclusion of people Whole system
Action Research Diagnosis of the problem Discovery of positive core
Causes and consequences Organization at its best
Quantitative analysis Narrative analysis
Profile of need Map of positive core
Conducted by outsiders Conducted by members
Dissemination Feedback to decision makers Widespread and creative
sharing of best practices
Creative Potential Brainstormed list of alternatives Dreams of a better world and the
organization’s contribution
Result Best solution to resolve the Design to realize dreams and
problem human aspirations
Capacity gained Capacity to implement and Capacity for ongoing positive
measure the plan change
The Power of Appreciative Inquiry, Second Edition
Deficit based Change Strength based Change
From deficit based change to strength based change
INSPIRING CHANGE

5. Wastes
*Transportation
*Inventory
*Motions (unnecessary)
*Waiting
*Over-production
*Over-processing
*Defects
*What problems do we have at...?
*What is inefficient here?
*Where is the waste?
*How can we avoid problem X?
*What do we have to cut?
*What is redundant?
*What is not working well?
*Who is not doing their job?
Lean Six Sigma is about deficit based change
INSPIRING CHANGE

6. INSPIRING CHANGE
“Results from the Heart”
Book by Kiyoshi Suzaki
The 8th waste
“The worst kind of
waste is the waste
of underutilising our talents”

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Influences on Lean
Deficit focussed Strength based focussed
LEAN SIX SIGMA
KATA
KAIKAKU
KAIZEN
LEAN THINKING
A3 THINKING
APPRECIATIVE
INQUIRY

8. INSPIRING CHANGE
Influence of AI
The generative power of
Strength based focus
LEAN SIX SIGMA
KATA
KAIKAKU
KAIZEN
LEAN THINKING
A3 THINKING
APPRECIATIVE
INQUIRY

9. INSPIRING CHANGE
Strength based Lean Six Sigma
Identify what goes well
(past and present)
What if the problem isn’t there
Inquire into what and who is
Contributing to success
Dream
Change
Evaluate
Continuous
learning
and
improving

10. Strength based Lean Six Sigma
How to get there..
and beyond…
INSPIRING CHANGE

11. INSPIRING CHANGE
Generations of Lean Six Sigma
According to David Shaked
First generation Lean Six Sigma
Identify and eliminate waste, defects and
bottlenecks to deliver
more value to the customers efficiently
and consistently

12. Second generation of Lean Six Sigma
Reframe the first generation by focusing on
what is wanted: identifying where value,
perfection and flow already exist and using
them to deliver more value and efficiency
Generations of Lean Six Sigma
According to David Shaked
INSPIRING CHANGE

13. Third generation of Lean Six Sigma
In addition to the ideas from the second
generation, this generation fully integrates
the full spectrum of existing personal
strengths, passions, values, purposes,
personal ‘flow’ (as defined by Positive
Psychology) and emotional intelligence
Generations of Lean Six Sigma
According to David Shaked
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14. Dream a bit about the third
generation…
How does continuous improvement look
like?
What possibilities do you see?
What (small) steps do you think of
to make our way into the third generation?
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15. INSPIRING CHANGE
Kaizen Blitz
A story….

16. Thank you for your dreams!
INSPIRING CHANGE