Category Methods

Lean Thinking, Methods

Stop Calling 5 Whys a Tool

We treat 5 Why like a tool, but it’s really a mindset. It isn’t about worksheets or counting questions; it’s about staying curious long enough to reach the truth hiding under the convenient answer. When you stop seeing 5 Why as a technique and start seeing it as disciplined inquisitiveness, you finally uncover the forces that make problems inevitable - not just the symptoms that make them visible.

Niall Coney
13/08/2026

Lean Thinking, Methods

Rethinking Takt in Service Work

In service environments where unpredictability reigns - call centers, hospitals, IT support - takt time isn’t about control, it’s about clarity. This blog explores how takt can be used not to standardise every task, but to reveal patterns, protect staff, and manage complexity. Learn how cadence becomes a management lens, not a constraint, and how visual tools like day-by-hour boards can transform chaos into insight.

Niall Coney
02/12/2025

Leadership, Lean Thinking, Methods

We don’t use Lean, we use Agile. Which one is better?

Agile vs. Lean: what’s the difference, and does it even matter? In this article, we break down the real differences between Lean and Agile, why the debate is misleading, and how the best organisations blend both mindsets to build a stronger, more adaptive culture. Stop arguing over methods - start focusing on better thinking and behaviours instead.

Niall Coney
13/02/2025

Leadership, Lean Thinking, Methods

Abnormality at a Glance: Mastering Lean Thinking

In this article, we will explore the significance of abnormality at a glance, its role in problem-solving, and how it fosters new ways of thinking beyond the superficial implementation of lean tools.

Niall Coney
16/06/2023

Leadership, Lean Thinking, Methods

What is Gemba really all about?

As a follow-up to the first Gemba article, we now expand into what Gemba should really mean for organisations, and some simple ways that you can improve your organisation starting at the Gemba.

Leadership, Lean Thinking, Methods

Common “Gemba” Mistakes

The word Gemba is a word heard a lot in 'improving' organisations, often to the dismay of many workers. We often find it has become another one of those 'lean tools' that we just have to do because... we have to. So what does it mean? Why has it become a chore? Lets begin to explore how perhaps the word Gemba can be so easily misunderstood.

Niall Coney
21/08/2021