Marketing

Software system

Teaching method

Software construction

Action learning

Pedagogy

Originality

Computer science

Business

Qualitative research

Software

Process management

Action research

Cooperative learning

Sociology

Critical success factor

Lean project management

Programming language

Lean software development

Knowledge management

Lean manufacturing

Social science

International Journal of Operations & Production Management

Purpose This paper investigates developing a learning-to-learn capability as a critical success factor for sustainable lean transformation. Design/methodology/approach This research design is guided by our research question: how can suppliers learn to learn as part of a buyer-led collaborative lean transformation? The authors adopt action learning research to generate actionable knowledge from a lean supplier development initiative over a three-year period. Findings Drawing on emergent insights from the initiative, the authors find that developing a learning-to-learn capability is a core and critical success factor for lean transformation. The authors also find that network action learning has a significant enabling role in buyer-led collaborative lean transformations. Originality/value The authors contribute to lean theory and practice by making the distinction between learning about and implementing lean best practices and adopting a learning-to-learn perspective to build organisational capabilities, consistent with lean thinking and practice. Further, the authors contribute to methodology, adopting action learning research to explore learning-to-learn as a critical success factor for sustainable lean transformation.

Rethinking lean supplier development as a learning system