Abstract
Through qualitative case research involving two cases of digital lean implementation projects, we identify and explicate how grit, vision, and pragmatism (as enablers) and technology maturity, implementability, and idiosyncrasy (as barriers) interact with and affect strategic digitalization initiatives. Seemingly-paradoxical strategic approaches to digitalization emerge from the associations between the enablers and barriers with micro-foundations in continuous learning and purposeful implementation—in other words, a lean mindset. Lean thinking changes how firms work with production processes and practices, approach management culture, envision the larger operational landscape, and manage strategy. In today’s business environment, firms need to consider how to make digital technologies fit their own strategic and operational priorities. The contribution of this study is its presentation of strategic digitalization as a lean approach to competitive differentiation.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Sanders, A., Elangeswaran, C., Wulfsberg, J.: Industry 4.0 implies lean manufacturing: research activities in industry 4.0 function as enablers for lean manufacturing. J. Industrial Eng. Manage. 9(3), 811–833 (2016)
Cattaneo, L., Rossi, M., Negri, E., Powell, D., Terzi, S.: Lean thinking in the digital era. In: Ríos, J., Bernard, A., Bouras, A., Foufou, S. (eds.) Product Lifecycle Management and the Industry of the Future. PLM 2017. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 517. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72905-3_33
Pinho, C., Mendes, L.: IT in lean-based manufacturing industries: systematic literature review and research issues. Int. J. Prod. Res. 55(24), 7524–7540 (2017)
Santhiapillai, F.P., Chandima Ratnayake, R.M.: A lean digital approach to after-delivery services: a case study from the multi-supplier retail industry. In: Kim, K. Y., Monplaisir, L., Rickli, J. (eds.) Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: The Human-Data-Technology Nexus. FAIM 2022. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Cham (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17629-6_27
Bodrožić, Z., Adler, P.S.: The evolution of management models: a neo-schumpeterian theory. Adm. Sci. Q. 63(1), 85–129 (2018)
Liker, J.K.: The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World’s Greatest Manufacturer. McGraw-Hill, New York (2004)
Hänggi, R., Fimpel, A., Siegenthaler, R.: LEAN Production–Easy and Comprehensive: A Practical Guide to Lean Processes Explained With Pictures. Springer Nature, Berlin (2022)
Buer, S.-V., Semini, M., Strandhagen, J.O., Sgarbossa, F.: The complementary effect of lean manufacturing and digitalisation on operational performance. Int. J. Prod. Res. 59(7), 1976–1992 (2021)
McAfee, A., Brynjolfsson, E.: Big data: the management revolution. Harv. Bus. Rev. 90(10), 60–68 (2012)
Ingvaldsen, J.A.: Organizational learning: bringing the forces of production back in. Organ. Stud. 36(4), 423–444 (2015)
Haddud, A., Khare, A.: Digitalizing supply chains potential benefits and impact on lean operations. Int. J. Lean Six Sigma 11(4), 731–765 (2020)
Sestino, A., Prete, M.I., Piper, L., Guido, G.: Internet of things and big data as enablers for business digitalization strategies. Technovation 98, 102173 (2020)
Jonsson, P., Holmström, J.: Future of supply chain planning: closing the gaps between practice and promise. Int. J. Phys. Distrib. Logist. Manag. 46(1), 62–81 (2016)
Büyüközkan, G., Göçer, F.: Digital supply chain: literature review and a proposed framework for future research. Comput. Ind. 97, 157–177 (2018)
Hofmann, E., Sternberg, H., Chen, H., Pflaum, A., Prockl, G.: Supply chain management and Industry 4.0: conducting research in the digital age. Int. J. Physical Distribution & Logistics Manage. 49(10), 945–955 (2019)
Stark, A., et al.: Hybrid digital manufacturing: capturing the value of digitalization. J. Operations Manage., 1–21 (2022)
Jones, D.T., Womack, J.P.: The evolution of lean thinking and practice. In: Netland, T., Powell, D.J. (eds.) The Routledge Companion to Lean Management, Routledge, New York, pp. 3–8 (2016)
Womack, J.P., Jones, D.T., Roos, D.: The Machine that Changed the World. Free Press, New York (1990)
Powell, D.J., Coughlan, P.: Rethinking lean supplier development as a learning system. Int. J. Oper. Prod. Manag. 40(7/8), 921–943 (2020)
Saabye, H., Powell, D.J., Coughlan, P.: Lean and action learning: towards an integrated theory? Int. J. Oper. Prod. Manag. 43(13), 128–151 (2023)
Westerman, G., Bonnet, D., McAfee, A.: Leading Digital: Turning Technology into Business Transformation. Harvard Business Press, Boston (2014)
Björkdahl, J.: Strategies for digitalization in manufacturing firms. Calif. Manage. Rev. 62(4), 17–36 (2020)
Abou-Foul, M., Ruiz-Alba, J.L., Soares, A.: The impact of digitalization and servitization on the financial performance of a firm: an empirical analysis. Prod. Planning & Control 32(12), 975–989 (2021)
Hautala-Kankaanpää, T.: The impact of digitalization on firm performance: examining the role of digital culture and the effect of supply chain capability. Bus. Process. Manag. J. 28(8), 90–109 (2022)
Ashrafian, A., et al.: Sketching the landscape for lean digital transformation. In: Ameri, F., Stecke, K., von Cieminski, G., Kiritsis, D. (eds) Advances in Production Management Systems. Production Management for the Factory of the Future. APMS 2019. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 566. Springer, Cham (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30000-5_4
Alieva, J., Powell, D.J.: The significance of employee behaviours and soft management practices to avoid digital waste during a digital transformation. Int. J. Lean Six Sigma 14(1), 1–32 (2022)
Holmström, J., Holweg, M., Lawson, B., Pil, F.K., Wagner, S.M.: The digitalization of operations and supply chain management: theoretical and methodological implications. J. Oper. Manag. 65, 728–734 (2019)
Cusumano, M.A., et al.: Commentaries on “the lenses of lean.” J. Oper. Manag. 67(5), 627–639 (2021)
Hopp, W.J., Spearman, M.S.: The lenses of lean: visioning the science and practice of efficiency. J. Oper. Manag. 67, 610–626 (2021)
Frank, A.G., Marodin, G.A., Godinho Filho, M., Thürer, M.: Call for papers – Beyond Industry 4.0 – integrating lean, digital technologies and people. International Journal of Operations & Production Management (2023)
Flick, U.: An Introduction to Qualitative Research. SAGE Publications, London (2014)
Mills, J., Birks, M.: Qualitative Methodology. SAGE Publications, London (2014)
Miles, M.B., Huberman, A.M., Saldana, J.: Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook. SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks (2014)
Creswell, J.: Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks (2013)
Duckworth, A.: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner, New York (2016)
Panicker, P.: Embedding Culture and Grit in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) for Higher Education. arXiv preprint arXiv:2005.11973 (2020)
Albukhitan, S.: Developing digital transformation strategy for manufacturing. Procedia Computer Sci. 170, 664–671 (2020)
Bughin, J., Kretschmer, T., van Zeebroeck, N.: Digital technology adoption drives strategic renewal for successful digital transformation. IEEE Eng. Manage. Rev. 49(3), 103–108 (2021)
York, J.G.: Pragmatic sustainability: translating environmental ethics into competitive advantage. J. Bus. Ethics 85, 97–109 (2009)
Jacobs, D.C.: A pragmatist approach to integrity in business ethics. J. Manag. Inq. 13(3), 215–223 (2004)
Kretschmer, T., Khashabi, P.: Digital transformation and organization design: an integrated approach. Calif. Manage. Rev. 62(4), 86–104 (2020)
Korotkova, N., Benders, J., Mikalef, P., Cameron, D.: Maneuvering between skepticism and optimism about hyped technologies: building trust in digital twins. Information & Manage. 60(4), 103787 (2023)
Tabesh, P., Mousavidin, E., Hasani, S.: Implementing big data strategies: a managerial perspective. Bus. Horiz. 62(3), 347–358 (2019)
Wimelius, H., Mathiassen, L., Holmström, J., Keil, M.: A paradoxical perspective on technology renewal in digital transformation. Inf. Syst. J. 31(1), 198–225 (2021)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing
About this paper
Cite this paper
Eriksson, V. et al. (2023). Tying Digitalization to the Lean Mindset: A Strategic Digitalization Perspective. In: Alfnes, E., Romsdal, A., Strandhagen, J.O., von Cieminski, G., Romero, D. (eds) Advances in Production Management Systems. Production Management Systems for Responsible Manufacturing, Service, and Logistics Futures. APMS 2023. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 689. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43662-8_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43662-8_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-43661-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-43662-8
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)