Applying lean principles to innovation management

Abstract

The innovative potential of the organization is increasingly becoming one of the key factors of competitive advantage. The philosophy of lean manufacturing has a well-established reputation for its focus on process efficiency and is therefore often applied in various areas of innovation. This broad and growing applicability has resulted in a large body of literature on lean innovation. The purpose of this article is to conceptualize an integrative view of Lean Innovation Management. Based on a systematic review of the literature, key principles and practices of lean manufacturing that are useful in the context of innovation management are identified and combined into a comprehensive framework. Five aspects of lean innovation are identified: coaching, learning culture, collaborative organizational structure, collaborative external networks and learning procedures), which reflect the structure of the relationship between lean manufacturing and innovation. Contributing to the current socio-technical concept of lean, this study brings together the literature into a comprehensive framework of cultural, relational, organizational, technical, and leadership qualities. Future research may focus on the Lean Innovation Management transformation process and how it can be monitored and evaluated according to management maturity levels or organization development stages.