There is a common lean phrase, “Bad systems beat good people.” Sometimes it is attributed to Dr. W. Edwards Deming although it isn’t actually his quote. I’ve used it for 20 years but couldn’t tell you if I heard it or was paraphrasing Dr. Deming’s teaching.
The sentiment is that good people come to work and try to do a good job, but encounter bad systems of work. Management is accountable for these systems. This helps us understand the role of process in achieving performance. Lean certainly has a plethora of methods that are process focused, from processing mapping to standardized work.
