Lean frameworks: A systematic literature review (SLR) investigating methods and design elements

Abstract

Purpose: Despite the influx of Lean frameworks in literature, there seems to be no standardised or established methods for designing them. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate what design methods and design elements are utilised in creating Lean frameworks.

Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to find all the available studies on Lean frameworks.

Findings: This study found that the formation of the framework could be broken down into four different categories; namely: approaches or methods for designing, design elements to include, theory to investigate during the literature studies and framework testing methods for evaluating the framework.

Research limitations/implications: While this research focused on Lean frameworks, it is recommended that future studies look at Lean models and roadmaps.

Practical implications: The artefact created in this study, the House of Guidance, will provide future researchers with a guideline on how to go about designing a Lean framework.

Originality/value: The SLR looked at pre-existing frameworks, in order to extract the categories for the development of Lean frameworks. This study presents the House of Guidance (an original artefact), to aid in the design and creation of future Lean Frameworks.