Front-line managers as learning facilitators - From lean leadership ideals to everyday practice
Licentiatavhandling, 2025
Through three empirical studies, a retrospective case study, a multiple case study, and an intervention study, this research investigates what front-line managers do, how they facilitate learning, what hinders them, and how their capabilities to facilitate learning can be developed. The findings reveal that while front-line managers are expected to coach, support, and develop their teams, their actual work is often dominated by reactive problem-solving and administrative tasks. Structural constraints, such as shift work, large spans of control, and a lack of support functions, further limit their ability to foster learning. However, the research also identifies conditions under which a leadership that facilitates learning can thrive. A retrospective case illustrates how shared mental models, psychological safety, and structured learning processes enable front-line managers to support continuous improvement. An intervention based on action learning and improvement kata demonstrated that front-line managers’ learning-facilitation skills can be developed through iterative cycles of reflection and experimentation.
This thesis contributes to the understanding of lean as a learning system and provides practical insights for developing leadership that supports sustainable lean transformations.
leadership
action learning
lean management
front-line managers
learning organisation
learning facilitators
leadership development
Författare
Malin C Hallin
Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Supply and Operations Management
Wänström, C., Medbo, L., Hallin, M. Fulfilling operators’ basic psychological needs using lean practices, despite working at an assembly line
Hallin, M., Wänström, C., Skagert, K. Conditions for front-line managers to act as learning facilitators in a lean setting.
Metodstöd för ledarskap och organisatoriskt lärande i produktionsteam
AFA Försäkring (D-190098), 2019-08-19 -- 2022-08-19.
Lednings- och organisationsmodell för innovativa, effektiva och socialt hållbara produktionsteam
VINNOVA (2020-02985), 2021-01-01 -- 2024-06-30.
Ämneskategorier (SSIF 2025)
Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi
Industriell ekonomi
Drivkrafter
Hållbar utveckling
Styrkeområden
Produktion
Utgivare
Chalmers
Seminarierum Korsvägen, Vasa Hus 2, Vera Sandbergs Allé 8
Opponent: Assistant Professor, Nina Edh, Department of Supply Chain and Operations Management, Jönköping University