implemented more systematically in a
number of areas driven by senior management.
The propositions refer back to the work of Bateman
(2005) in that they differentiate between process and
continuous improvement. In this paper the degree of the
conditions of readiness has been considered
highlighting that the lack of them impacting on the
sustainability of Lean in public services. Table 7 attempt
to situate the findings by presenting the relationship
between the approach of the improvement activity to
the degree of understanding of the conditions of
readiness. The table draws on the ideas and concepts
of McGill and Slocum (1993) who present a number of
approaches to experience based around an evaluation
of organisations philosophy, management practices,
employees, customers and change – similar to those
conditions presented in this paper as organisational
readiness. In their paper they describe the
characteristics of four types of organisations which they
frame within learning organisations; knowing,
understanding, thinking and learning (McGill and
Slocum, [38] 1993). A paper by Westrum [39] (2004)
focused on Healthcare presents a typology of
organisational cultures. In this paper Westrum [39]
(2004) defines culture as an organisations pattern of
response to problems and opportunities. He states a
response on personal need is pathological, focus on
departmental is bureaucratic and, focus on mission as
generative (Westrum, [39] 2004). Table 6 combines the
characteristics of the McGill and Slocum [38] (1993)
with the typology of Westrum [39] (2004) using some of
the same names.