Lean leadership
the Toyota way in agricultural firms
Swedish agricultural businesses are facing challenges in order to achieve long-term profitability. The opportunity to improve profitability and efficiency on farm level may be enhanced by management. One way to work with leadership is to use Lean. It is a management system that aims to improve competitiveness. Currently, there is a project where Lean is implemented into 100 agricultural firms. It may be questioned what is required of the leadership in order to implement and sustain Lean in the agricultural firms.
The aim of this study is to explain how agricultural firms can use Lean as a way to work with leadership, by evaluating indicators which have potential to make Lean leadership successful. This study approaches a qualitative method. It includes case studies of agricultural firms with personal interviews with agricultural leaders, employees and Lean coaches.
The result of this study shows that in order to sustain and implement Lean in Swedish agricultural firms it is evident that the leadership maintains the work with Lean and that there is a constant reminder of Lean in the daily work. The leader must implement Lean in the whole organisation and make the management system integrated into the company culture. As a leader it is important to make continuous improvements stepwise, establish a meeting structure and implement inspirational events such as study visits and use an external Lean consultant. There are changes in the agricultural firms in terms of working structure, working environment, motivation and communication, due to Lean leadership. Important skills for leaders which indicate potential success of Lean leadership for agricultural firms are clear, open-minded, ability to delegate and point out the direction.