The Lean Software & Systems Consortium (LeanSCC), whose mission is to improve the world by improving its systems and system-building capabilities reorganized as the Lean System Society. The change will focus the Society on thought leadership, community development, collaboration and debate to further the Lean/Kanban community.
The LeanSCC announced this change on May 14, 2012 via a press release that explains that the new Society is “modeled on the United Kingdom’s Royal Society and its fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists.” As such, an initial set of fellows (thought leaders in the systems fields) were named.
In the press release James Sutton, president of the Lean Systems Society, explains the change.
After a review of our organization’s evolution and our purpose of improving the world by improving its systems, we believe the Royal Society’s 300 years of success is an ideal model to emulate.
James Sutton explains that the Society provides a catalyst to accelerate and deepen the Lean paradigm and bring together thinkers and doers from many different perspectives. The credo for the Society provides additional context.
The Lean Systems Society believes that excellence in managing complexity requires accepting that complexity and uncertainty are natural to social systems and knowledge work. Effective systems must produce both better economic and sociological outcomes. Their development requires a holistic approach that incorporates the human condition. The Society is committed to exploring valuable ideas from all disciplines, and fostering a community that derives solutions from a common set of values and principles, while embracing specific context and avoiding dogma.
Chris Hefley, CEO of Bandit Software, and a fellow in the Society, provides his perspective.
This reorganization is a sign that the community and market are maturing. Other groups and commercial enterprises have sprung up to support the community in other ways, allowing the Lean Systems Society to narrow its focus and do what it has always done best - encourage the exchange of ideas, collaboration, thought leadership, and community development.
For more information go to the Lean Systems Society home page or to the press release.
Also, check out the many InfoQ articles and presentation on Lean and Kanban.