I used the outline in the book Think Better to deliver a presentation on looking at productive type thinking versus what the author called re-productive or continuous improvement.

1. When Lean Thinking
is
Not Enough!
Based on the book
Think Better by Tim Hurson

2. Lean Thinking is Reproductive
Old way of Thinking
 Perceive a Problem
 Pick a Solution
 Do Something

3. Team: Date:
Title/Theme:
Background/Definition:
Current Conditions:
Target:
Determine Cause/Analysis:
Countermeasures:
Implementation:
Follow-up:
Plan
Do
Check
Act
A3 Lean Thinking

4. Lean Thinking is Reproductive
Kaizen has limits:
 Incremental improvements produce
learned thoughts
 Will achieve predictable results
 Viewed from sum of parts (Breakdown Problem)

5. Lean Thinking needs Productive
Tenkaizen is needed:
 Means good revolution
 Rather than reproduce old, produces new
 Coping with change and creating change

6. Productive Thinking
Overarching Principle:
 Creative Thinking separate from Critical Thinking

7. Productive Thinking
Creative Thinking:
 Generative
 Non – Judgemental
 Expansive

8. Productive Thinking
Critical Thinking:
 Analytical
 Judgemental
 Selective

9. Need Both Types of Thinking
Reproductive Thinking:
 Valuable when Consequences of failure
are high.
Productive Thinking:
 Valuable when Consequences of failure
are low

10. Successful Productive Thinking
Requires you to stay in the Question:
 Okay w Ambiguous
 Okay with Uncertainty
 Okay with not Knowing

11. Productive Thinking Model
 What’s going on?
 What’s success
 What’s the question?
 Generate Answers
 Forge the Solution
 Align resources

12. Theory: What’s going on?

13. Theory: What’s success?

14. Theory: What’s the question?

15. Theory: Generate Answers

16. Theory: Forge the Solution

17. Theory: Align resources

18. Productive Thinking Model
 What’s going on?
 What’s success
 What’s the question?
 Generate Answers
 Forge the Solution
 Align resources
“All models are wrong. Some are useful!” - George Box

19. Thinking Better
Based on the book
Think Better by Tim Hurson

20. Visit the Business901 Website
Our Mission is to bring Continuous Improvement
to Sales and Marketing.
Lean Marketing House
Marketing with PDCA
Marketing with A3
Lean Engagement Team