Did Lean Management Fail?

Did Lean Management Fail?

I was recently asked if lean management failed. My answer is absolutely not. Lean systems such as Last Planner, Takt, Scrum, and lean methodologies win every single time they are applied. They deliver predictability, respect for people, and flow that classical systems simply cannot match. The problem is not with lean itself but with the environment it enters. It often faces resistance from ego, tradition, and systems designed to protect power rather than create progress.

The Difference Between Equal and Fair

One of the best ways to explain this is through the difference between equal and fair. Imagine two restrooms in a stadium: one for men and one for women. At first glance, this seems equal. But in practice, women face longer lines because they need more stalls, different accommodations, and often accompany children. True fairness means acknowledging these differences and designing accordingly.

Construction is no different. Classical management promotes equal treatment in the form of rigid rules, hierarchical structures, and one-size-fits-all planning. But real fairness requires us to design systems that account for the unique needs of workers, trade partners, and projects. Lean does this by focusing on flow, collaboration, and respect for people.

Why Lean Hasn’t Spread Widely

Lean has not failed. What has failed is the widespread adoption of lean thinking at scale. Classical management systems have dominated for so long that people often do not question them. Many leaders cling to outdated methods out of fear, ignorance, or the desire to maintain control. It is easier to defend tradition than to challenge it with data and new approaches.

History shows us this pattern again and again. Harmful systems in society have been maintained for centuries, not because they were right, but because they served the few in power. The same is true in construction management. Classical systems like CPM and heavy contract structures were scaled without ever being proven to work for people in the field. They endure not because they are effective but because they feel safe to those who hold authority.

The True Failure

The real failure lies in classical management. It was scaled without questioning whether it was truly right. It prioritized popularity, tenure, and significance over measurable results. It built contracts that were more about control than collaboration. It blamed individuals instead of fixing broken systems. It protected elites while leaving workers without a voice.

Lean, by contrast, works because it builds equity. It puts systems in place that allow people to succeed, it values collaboration over ego, and it delivers results through flow and predictability. Wherever it is genuinely applied, it outperforms classical methods.

Lean as the Way Forward

When I look at projects where lean thrives, I see remarkable outcomes: crews working without burnout, trade partners aligned around realistic commitments, and owners experiencing reliable results. This is not a theory. It is happening on real projects with real teams. The barrier is not lean’s effectiveness, it is whether leaders are willing to let go of outdated habits and open their eyes to better ways of working.

The Lesson

Lean management did not fail. It succeeds wherever it is given the chance. The failure is with classical management and the oppressive systems that keep it alive. Just like women did not fail, men failed women. Lean did not fail, people failed to learn.

Takeaway

Lean management has not failed. It succeeds when it is given the chance to work. What failed is classical management, driven by ego, fear, and systems that protect the status quo.