Definition
Lean is a philosophy focused on maximizing customer value while minimizing waste. It emphasizes identifying and eliminating non-value-adding activities throughout a process, aiming for efficiency and continuous improvement. In practice, Lean involves observing workflows, analyzing steps for potential waste, and implementing changes to streamline operations. This approach matters on the job because it leads to faster delivery, reduced costs, and higher quality products or services. For instance, a software development team might use Lean principles to remove unnecessary code reviews, speeding up deployment. A common confusion is with Six Sigma, which focuses on defect reduction, whereas Lean prioritizes waste elimination. Lean principles are foundational to agile methodologies and appear on the PMI-ACP and PMP exams.