An Interpretive Phenomenological Approach to Understanding Employee Meaning of Lean and Respect for People Brian Charles Sloan CMA, CPA, MBA A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Edinburgh Napier University, for the award of Doctor of Business Administration October 2017 i DECLARATION I declare that this work has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification. This thesis is the result of my own independent work. ______ ___ ___ __October 29, 2017______ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I owe a debt of gratitude to many people for the completion of this thesis. Firstly, to my supervisors, Mr. Grant MacKerron and Dr. Gerri Matthews-Smith, your support, guidance and encouragement has made all the difference in completing this journey. To the teaching staff of the business school at Edinburgh Napier University, your kindness and generosity in sharing your passion and talent for teaching and research is greatly appreciated. Your enthusiasm was contagious and inspired me to pursue my dream to teach and to conduct research. To my classmates, your companionship, concern and support along this academic journey created an opportunity to form lifelong friendships. I am much better off for such relationships. We have fought the good fight together. To the employees of the case company, your enthusiasm and willingness to share openly and honestly for the betterment of Lean and the company touched me deeply. You shared with me important parts of your work life experiences, and I am privileged to have earned such a level of trust that you would freely share them with me. To my family, thank you for your patience with my many absences from familial events. To my friend Charles McMillan, your time and effort given to proof-reading, subject material comments and suggestions has been invaluable. To my Sensei Greg Whitlock, your gift of Lean mentorship and leadership came just at the right moment. You shall be remembered always. Finally, to my wife Lynn, there are no words to describe the gift you have given to me to pursue my goal of a doctorate. Your love and support has always, is always, and will always make everything I aspire to possible. iii Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................ 5 2.1 Chapter Introduction ........................................................................................... 5 2.2 A Brief History on the Origins of Lean .................................................................. 7 2.3 Benefits of Lean ................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Defining Lean ....................................................................................................... 9 2.5 Major Ontological and Epistemological Positions in the Lean Literature ............ 12 2.5.1 Lean as Individual Tools or as Sets of Practices ............................................ 13 2.5.2 Lean as a Holistic System ............................................................................. 15 2.5.3 Lean as a Philosophy or Set of Principles ..................................................... 17 2.5.4 Lean as a Concept or Model ........................................................................ 18 2.6 Lean Methodologies .......................................................................................... 19 2.7 Lean Perspectives: Organisational Benefits versus Employee Benefits ............... 20 2.8 The Impact of Organisational Culture on Lean ................................................... 22 2.9 Schein’s (1992) Multi-Level Organisational Culture Model ................................. 26 2.10 Respect for People ........................................................................................... 28 2.11 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................ 31 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS ..................................... 34 3.1 Chapter Introduction ......................................................................................... 34 3.2 Philosophical Approach ..................................................................................... 34 3.2.1 Ontology ..................................................................................................... 34 3.2.2 Epistemology .............................................................................................. 35 3.2.3 Axiology ...................................................................................................... 35 3.3 Research Justification ........................................................................................ 36 3.3.1 Qualitative Research ................................................................................... 36 3.3.2 Phenomenology .......................................................................................... 37 3.3.3 Interpretive Phenomenology Approach....................................................... 39 3.4 The Research Design .......................................................................................... 40 3.5 Ethical Considerations ....................................................................................... 43 3.6 Methodology ..................................................................................................... 44 3.6.1 Pilot Study ................................................................................................... 44 3.6.1.1 Site Selection ........................................................................................ 45 iv 3.6.1.2 Pilot Study Process ............................................................................... 45 3.6.1.3 Lessons Learned ................................................................................... 47 3.6.2 Main Study .................................................................................................. 47 3.6.2.1 Research Approach ............................................................................... 47 3.6.2.2 Main Study Methodology ..................................................................... 50 3.6.2.2.1 Pre-Interview Process ..................................................................... 50 3.6.2.2.2 Interview Process ........................................................................... 51 3.6.2.2.3 Post-Interview Process ................................................................... 51 3.6.2.2.4 Transcription Process ..................................................................... 51 3.7 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................... 53 3.7.1 Analysis Method 1: A Top Down Approach .................................................. 53 3.7.1.1. Summarising Interviews ....................................................................... 53 3.7.1.2 Constant Comparative Method ............................................................. 54 3.7.2 Analysis Method 2: Bottom Up Approach .................................................... 56 3.7.2.1 First Cycle Coding ................................................................................. 57 3.7.2.2 Second Cycle Coding ............................................................................. 57 3.7.3 Thematic Development from the Two Analysis Methods ............................ 62 3.8 Discussion of the Methodological Approach ...................................................... 62 3.8.1 Trustworthiness .......................................................................................... 62 3.9 Chapter Summary .............................................................................................. 63 CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS .......................................................................................... 65 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 65 4.2 Individual Interview Data ................................................................................... 67 4.2.1 The Phenomenon of Lean ........................................................................... 67 4.2.1.1 The Core Concept of Humanity ............................................................. 67 4.2.1.1.1 Inclusiveness .................................................................................. 67 4.2.1.1.2 Group Activities .............................................................................. 69 4.2.1.1.3 Lean is a Good Thing ...................................................................... 71 4.2.1.1.4 Eliminating Chaos and Stress .......................................................... 72 4.2.1.1.5 Difficult to Implement .................................................................... 73 4.2.1.1.6 Buy-in ............................................................................................. 74 4.2.1.1.7 Openness and Transparency .......................................................... 75 4.2.1.2 The Core Concept of a Way of Doing Things.......................................... 76 v 4.2.1.2.1 Efficiencies ..................................................................................... 76 4.2.1.2.2 Processes ....................................................................................... 78 4.2.1.2.3