Chancen und Risiken bei der Einführung von Lean Leadership im Rahmen agiler Transformationsinitiativen

Abstract

In a time of increasingly intense global competition, production companies are faced with the challenge of increasing their efficiency and at the same time reacting flexibly to changes. The combination of lean leadership with the principles of organisational agility is proving to be a promising approach. However, a concept that integrates these two approaches, in particular their leadership principles, has been lacking to date. Against this background, a comprehensive literature review was conducted in order to systematically analyse and compare relevant scientific sources. The work is thematically divided into two main areas - lean leadership and organisational agility - whereby both concepts are initially considered individually. On this basis, an integrative concept for a lean-agile leadership style is developed that combines the essential elements of both approaches. The potential challenges in implementation and practical application as well as the opportunities and risks associated with the introduction of a lean-agile leadership style in the context of agile transformations are then discussed. The results of the work show that lean-agile leadership is not only possible, but also makes sense. However, it is more than just a mere combination of lean and agile principles. It requires a redefinition of leadership roles in which managers not only act as role models, but also actively drive the transformation of the company. The central elements of this management style include the promotion of a continuous improvement culture, the development of skills at all levels and the decentralisation of decision-making processes. At the same time, the work reveals considerable challenges, such as the risk of overburdening employees, resistance to change and the risk of ineffective leadership due to a lack of expertise. Nevertheless, successful implementation offers considerable opportunities, particularly in the form of increased efficiency, flexibility and the company's ability to innovate. However, the combination of lean leadership and agile methods requires careful planning and implementation in order to minimise the associated risks and ensure the long-term success of the agile transformation.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Christine Ebner (Supervisor)