A LITERATURE REVIEW OF LEAN LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

Purpose: A literature review was conducted to explore the necessary competencies for leaders in health care to implement Lean management successfully throughout their institutions.

Approach: Keywords were used to search four electronic databases for articles about the leadership attributes associated with successful and sustainable Lean system transformation efforts.

Findings: In total, 446 articles were found. Six main principles of Lean leadership were identified. There is a need for a strong combination of coaching and motivational skills and the use of learned behaviors (e.g. self-development) in the implementation of a Lean strategy. Health-care leaders must use these principles, in an adaptable framework, when starting the journey towards Lean management.

Originality/value: The originality of this study lies in the fact that it pulls in expertise from Lean teaching in other fields and puts it into the context of health care, which otherwise has a very small literature about Lean methods. This manuscript is original and is not under review at any other journal.