BACKGROUND
In a systematic review of the literature,
Albliwi et al5 found a significant need for ameasurement system for LSS performance;
the authors concluded that most organizations’
failure is due to the lack of an LSS
maturity model. In other systematic reviews,
DelliFraine et al6 and Brackett et al7 examined
the Lean management research to
determine whether it supported LSS as an
evidence-based management approach. The
researchers concluded that there is little solid
evidence of the effectiveness of LSS; current
trends in evidence-based management
are based on conceptual arguments rather
than empirical research. Furthermore,Groene
et al8 noted the absence of well-established instruments
measuring implementation of hospital
quality management systems and called
for further research. They also noted that
few instruments link qualitymanagement constructs
to outcomes.8 Measuring the presence
of Lean management in the workplace and
linking it to hospital outcomes would provide
evidence that Lean management has an impact
on outcomes.