Throughout these two days, we will be hosting a Koné Consulting Lean workshop at a nonprofit, government agency, or community organization in Bouaké. 

Lean is a set of principles based on the core idea that organizations can maximize customer value while minimizing waste and maintaining respect for people. These principles came from manufacturing (specifically, Toyota and other automakers) but in recent years they have been used by service-sector organizations seeking to improve service for their consumers.

Lean thinking involves changing the role of management from optimizing “siloed” departments into optimizing the flow of information or products through whole value streams that can cross departments or functions in an organization.

A value stream is a sequence of work or events that an organization does to fulfill acustomer’s request by delivering something of value to them. A value stream includes all of the processes that take place in the delivery of service or product to a customer or constituent. A single value stream can be depicted as a value stream map, which is a large-format visual that shows flows of work materials and information needed to create or do whatever is needed to fulfill the customer’s initial request.

Value stream improvement (VSI) is a method we have used for purposes such as business process reengineering, program assessments and organizational planning engagements. In VSI, we work with managers to select areas for improvement that add value for customers, and then coach "doers" through a pilot period of making experimental improvements to positively impact the organization's service delivery.

On both days, lunch will be provided during the workshop. Dinner on your own.