the Work of Management: A Daily Path to Sustainable Improvement

Author and CEO Jim Lancaster tells a practical and inspiring story on two levels. It's a close-up, candid look at his personal transformation as a leader. It's also a practical, in-depth, business case study of Lantech's lean transformation, relapse, and comeback that American manufacturing --- and other industries--; can use to profitably transform themselves.

In his engaging story, Lancaster reveals:

Why Lantech, a stellar lean performer for a decade, struggled over time (like many other companies) to sustain gains and improve financial performance.

Why 60 to 90 minutes of daily frontline management activities are a CEO's most important minutes of the day for sustaining and growing their business.

CEO to CEO: "Screw up your courage"

Lancaster knows the changes needed for daily management require courage by CEOs. "I have always had a problem convincing CEOs of one simple thing," Lancaster writes. "They need to take the time to go where value is actually created. They need to learn to see the work and to see how their management system utterly fails to support the daily work. My most important advice is to screw up your courage, put aside your daily distractions, and walk out into the work to see how value is created at the frontline."