Lean from the Trenches

Lean in a Nutshell

Lean is the western term for what the Japanese call “TPS” (Toyota Production System)—an approach to manufacturing that has helped make Toyota the most successful car manufacturer in the world. The underlying principles behind TPS, the Toyota Way, have turned out to be applicable almost anywhere, including software development.

Agile and Lean can be seen as cousins with common values but different origins. Lean arose from manufacturing. Agile arose from software development. Both sets of principles fit well together and are very broadly applicable. More and more software development organizations are discovering how to combine these principles to cover the whole chain from product concept to delivery.

Mary and Tom Poppendieck ...