The document discusses using a common language as a tool to facilitate Lean transformations. It advocates for using simple language that everyone can understand to build agreement across stakeholders and drive improvement. Continuous discussion and focus on tangible outcomes like reducing waste, lead time and increasing efficiency are key. Implementations should involve an investment of time to be measurable and deliver clear returns.

1. A3 language
as the glue for the Lean
transformation
Marcin Kokott
http://twitter.com/MKokott Agile/Lean Coach, Senior Consultant
Tieto,
marcin.kokott@tieto.com
© 2011 Tieto Corporation

2. We all have powerfull tool
• We have most powerfull tool that natural selection have ever
devise
• Implanting your thoughts from your mind to other… without surgery!
• Chimpanzees can’t improve... We can 
• …take one idea and improve it
• Seeing something means I can steal it
• Languages to block the threath
• Social learning or „family groups”
• How many languages we have in our organizations
• Cultural, Management levels, groups…
© 2011 Tieto Corporation

3. Introduction
• Former developer, team leader, project manager
• ...more than 9 years experience in IT
• Currently Agile/Lean Coach of business critical
cases in Tieto
• ...has been implementing Agile & Lean in various types of projects for last 3
years in context of distributed deliveries (whole Scandinavia, Germany,
Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, India and China)
• Core team for Lean@Tieto
© 2011 Tieto Corporation

4. Improvement:
• NOW?
• REALITY?
• Anything for ME?
• NOT FIRE-FIGHTING?
• ACTIONS?
• HOW LONG?
• HOW MUCH?
• CHECK IT?
• WHEN it will be DONE?
• …and we don’t have a time - make it one page .
© 2011 Tieto Corporation

5. © 2011 Tieto Corporation

6. Simple
• “If you can't explain it simply,
you don't understand it well enough”
A.Einstein
• „No pictures ??? It’s boring…”
• GO and SEE
• „SPACE-BOXED”
© 2011 Tieto Corporation

7. Common goal
• Different people, roles, expectations
• Show whole elephant
• Sell it – not push it!
• Money, Lead-time, Delivery speed, Challenging (Kaikaku)
• Transparent
”Most business processes are 90% waste
and 10% value-adding work” (Jeffrey K. Liker)
© 2011 Tieto Corporation

8. Everyone speaks
• Agreed by every stakeholder
• Continuous discussion and selling
• Understandable by everyone
• ROI, CSS, Lead-Time, Efficiency
• No YES-NO
• If you don’t agree fully – show different situation
© 2011 Tieto Corporation

9. Solid
• Investment
• 30-60 days of implementation
• Measurable
• Clear ROI and fast
• Schedule, measure
• Cost of change
• Actions
© 2011 Tieto Corporation

10. Summary
• “If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well
enough”
• A.Einstein
• Use language to LEARN
• Bottom-up, Top-down… and „injections of catalyst”
• „Think fast, speak slow”
© 2011 Tieto Corporation

11. See also on BoF:
Roman Smirak
„Transforming 18000 people
company – Lean@Tieto”
Marcin Kokott
Agile/Lean Coach, Senior Consultant
Tieto,
marcin.kokott@tieto.com
http://twitter.com/MKokott
© 2011 Tieto Corporation