Guest Post: Searching for Participants in PhD Lean Research

Mark's Note: I'm posting this on behalf of a fellow MIT graduate because I thought you might be interested in his research and that at least one of my readers' organizations might have the experience base required for participation (see below). Trent needs one organization where at least 80 individuals can participate in the survey. As a discussion point for the Comments section below – has anybody seen noteworthy Lean research or journal articles, in healthcare or other industries?

My name is Trent Guerrero.   I am a 2001 graduate of MIT's Leaders for Manufacturing Program.   I am also an operations professional, having held vice president level positions with several U.S.-based manufacturing organizations.   Currently, I am the Chief Operating Officer for a privately-held manufacturer of custom magnetics used in high-reliability applications.

I am also a PhD learner at Capella University, where I am attempting to complete my dissertation.   I am posting on this blog because my dissertation research centers on the relationship between individual employees' strengths and the degree of commitment evidenced by those individuals to organizational changes associated with the implementation of lean.

I have already gathered data from one organization and require data from employees of at least one additional organization.   The research is survey-based.   Participation involves completion of two surveys:   a very short survey on employee commitment developed by two of the leading researchers in that area, and the StrengthsFinder survey, which has been completed by millions of individuals worldwide.   I will work with participating organizations, providing all needed materials, and funding access to the StrengthsFinder survey for all participants.   The survey process ensures the anonymity of all participants.

There are substantial benefits to participating organizations and to the individual employees that choose to participate.   I will be glad to describe these benefits more fully, and to provide details about what participation involves.   The eligibility criteria are simple:   participating organizations merely need have significant (i.e., several years' experience) in implementing lean.   Individual participants need have had substantial exposure to their respective organizations' implementation of lean, and need be able to read at at least a 10^th grade level.

If your organization is a fit and may be interested in participating, or if you know of other organization(s) and/or individuals that may be likely participants, please email me at: trent_m_guerrero@yahoo.com with the words “Lean Research” in the subject line of your message.   Please provide contact data and I will respond promptly.

Many thanks!

Trent Guerrero

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