Managing the Lean–Agile Paradox in Complex Environments

Andrea Furlan; Roberto Grandinetti; Alberto F. De Toni

doi:10.3390/systems11050258

journal article Open Access May 19, 2023

Managing the Lean–Agile Paradox in Complex Environments

Andrea Furlan Roberto Grandinetti

Alberto F. De Toni

Systems Vol. 11 No. 5 pp. 258 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/systems11050258

Abstract

The decision to incrementally improve existing processes and products or introduce breakthrough innovations depends on the context a company is facing. In situations where problems are known, it is better to incrementally improve, while in complex situations where problems are not known, a probe-sense-respond approach based on experimentation and the exploration of new solutions is preferable. Lean management adapts well to the first type of context, while agile management fits the second type of context. However, organizations must increasingly consider both approaches and become ambidextrous by introducing incremental improvements and breakthrough innovations simultaneously. This requires embracing the paradox between exploiting and exploring, adopting a new leadership mindset, and dual strategic, organizational, and behavioral models. This paper proposed a framework to implement lean and agile approaches simultaneously using the paradox theory to justify and manage this co-existence. This framework is threefold. First, managers need to differentiate between lean and agile, finding ways of keeping the two approaches separated. Second, lean and agile should be integrated so that synergies between the two approaches can be generated. Finally, managers need to achieve a dynamic equilibrium over time between lean and agile. Contributions to the theory and practice of this approach were discussed.

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Details

Published: May 19, 2023
Vol/Issue: 11(5)
Pages: 258
License: View

Authors

A

Andrea Furlan

Department of Economics and Management, University of Padova, 35123 Padova, Italy

R

Roberto Grandinetti

Department of Economics and Management, University of Padova, 35123 Padova, Italy

A

Alberto F. De Toni

Polytechnic Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy

Cite This Article

Andrea Furlan, Roberto Grandinetti, Alberto F. De Toni (2023). Managing the Lean–Agile Paradox in Complex Environments. Systems, 11(5), 258. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11050258

Managing the Lean–Agile Paradox in Complex Environments

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