Assignment task: Please reply to this discussion thread
The company that I have decided to write about is Starbucks. Starbucks has used the lean six strategies to go from a standalone coffee shop in Seattle, Washington, to the world's largest coffee house chain.
Keys to a successful LSS implementation:
The key decision makers took risk, and did not give up when things did not go to plan immediately. They tested the products, and continued trying to make it work and correct mistakes until they were officially able to replace hand roasting with a machine that would both roast the espresso as well as steam the milk. The initial response from consumers was bad. They were critical of the changes, and the company initially lost revenue because of this, however, it did not take long for the extreme growth to begin.
What not to do when implementing LSS:
As described in the article I read, I do not see much that went wrong in the way that Starbucks implemented LSS. They actually did a fantastic job at sticking to the changes even while they struggled to find the perfect way to roast the espresso and steam the milk. Additionally, they continued with the changes even while they lost customers and lost money.
Correcting the LSS failures with the keys to success:
One key success that Starbucks used, was commitment. This is shown when they stuck to the changes even when things were not working as planned and when customers were un-supportive. The one thing they could have done to reduce the public resisting this change, is they could have advertised it. This would help them be proactive in getting the publics immediate support.