“Dan Markovitz is a remarkable sensei, and this book reflects his ability to take complex content and make it digestible and actionable. Dan makes us realize that lean is not a mystery that migrated from Japan but skills that anyone can master regardless of their industry or line of work. This book should encourage readers to use lean thinking at work and in their personal life.”
—Sherry Neubert, Chief Information Officer, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
“In writing Building the Fit Organization, Dan Markovitz explains what it takes to become a successful Lean Organization without using any of the Lean jargon … making the subject more understandable and approachable. And in doing so, he demonstrates that any organization, not just manufacturing, can become Fit. For executives that have avoided the subject until now, or those who have tried and struggled with it, Building the Fit Organization is required reading.”
—Orry Fiume, Vice President Finance–Retired, The Wiremold Company, and coauthor, Real Numbers: Management Accounting in a Lean Organization
“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago … so too with starting the journey to organizational fitness. The second best time is today. Building the Fit Organization shows you how, with specific first steps for next Monday morning. Thanks Dan Markovitz for sharing your wisdom. Whether personally or organizationally, you remind us that there is always room for improvement.”
—Rich Sheridan, CEO, Chief Storyteller, Menlo Innovations, Author, Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love.
“What do physical fitness and organizational fitness have in common? More than you think. Dan Markovitz’s ability to help you think in different ways about your organization makes Building the Fit Organization a must-read for all leaders.”
—Helen Zak, President and COO, ThedaCare Center for Healthcare Value
“Dan Markovitz continues his enduring quest to help organizations, leaders, and people to contribute more with less, to improve effectiveness not just efficiency, to increase achievement and enjoyment. He is a writer of noble intent, making an impact through the hard discipline of writing well.”
—Jim Collins, author, Good to Great, Built to Last, and Great by Choice
“Dan is right: this book is not about running, and it is not about Toyota improvement methods. Nonetheless, the book shows how you can become a better runner if you follow a few principles, and how a company can improve by following those same principles. Dan has a remarkable talent in making things simple and proving that companies may already know most of what is needed to improve. No copying of Toyota concepts, no strange terms or ideas—just a little learning, hard work, and good coaching.”
—Norbert Majerus, Lean champion at The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and author of Lean-Driven Innovation
“Dan Markovitz uses the fitness metaphor to provide great practical insights on lean transformation. The book is full of good thinking punctuated by thought-provoking examples.”
—Peter Ward, Co-Director, Center for Operational Excellence, Fisher College of Business
“(Dan) does a fantastic job of presenting both the theory and the practical applications critical for moving toward being a fit company. His approach is direct and easily translated into actionable items for today’s business leader. As I read the book I found myself constantly making lists of actions that I later shared with my team so we could become a more fit organization.”
—Brian Thompson, General Manager, ExOfficio
“Outstanding performance is the goal. Organizational health is the means. And fitness is at the core of it all. Markovitz is spot-on regarding his observations and recommendations for building a fit organization that thrills customers, thrives during difficult times, and provides a meaningful work environment for the employees who deserve nothing less.”
—Karen Martin, President, The Karen Martin Group, author, The Outstanding Organization
“Dan is one of today’s leading voices revealing the role of skill development in organizations, and how practice is a vital ingredient for acquiring new skill, mindset and making change really happen.”
—Mike Rother, author of Toyota Kata
“Dan has done it again with Building the Fit Organization. He has identified the essential shift and plan needed to create a fit organization. He has created the perfect analogy of linking the trifecta of key elements for creating a true Lean Enterprise Transformation (People, Process, and Purpose) to a successful physical fitness plan. He identifies the key attributes in Process with the necessary horizontal flow and leader standard work. He defines the need for Servant Leadership and extensive coaching at all levels with the organization’s most valuable asset, its People. He then draws the work out plan to cover an organization’s Purpose with practical tools and elements for operational excellence and truly achieving the organization’s purpose. A must-read for all athletes of performance improvement.”
—John M. Rubio, Vice President, Simpler NA/Truven Health Analytics
“Dan brings to life the essence of a successful continuous improvement journey—it is all about the people. By reframing the journey as a quest for organizational fitness, Dan captures practical, profound insights that will drive any aspiring Lean organization to greater success.”
—Bob Chapman, CEO, Barry-Wehmiller