Every once in a while there is an idea that seems to touch on every area of my life. These recurrent themes cause me to stop and take note as they often lead to greater understanding. One theme I see recurring is the idea of simplicity, streamlined approach to organizational development.
Certainly the wave of economic shifts in response to the energy crunch would encourage a more conservative approach to operations from a business standpoint. More fundamental though I believe is a reaction to the complexity of life and a return to the essentials of getting things done. Perhaps there’s a deeper realization that "less is more" is really true.
Most recently this cropped-up at work with much talk in management circles about the book Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation. The book essentially says find what’s fundamentally valuable to your customer, cut waste and deliver in an efficient and effective manner.
Borrowing some of the concepts of Lean Thinking in my personal life, we live in a small house, drive older cars and try to avoid a lifestyle of waste. By being effective and efficient at work I produce quality work that is rewarded thereby building wealth for my family.
A streamlined approach is also an effective means to advancing organizational objectives that are not economically driven as well. The application is broad as is the case with the book Simple Church. Drawing parallels from marketing such as the iPod and Google’s homepage, the authors point to a simple approach to church that is in sharp contrast to an organization that runs a plethora of programs. This book got me excited as I’ve been meditating lately on Acts 2:42-47 which gives a picture of the early church devoted to a few things that rocked the world.
Like loosing oneself from debt, letting go of waste, complexity and unnecessary baggage gives greater flexibility and freedom. I guess the writer of the ancient book of Hebrews had it right when he said in chapter 12 "let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us". Now that’s lean thinking.