The Bettany Brief
Field notes on lean, flow & leadership
Short, practical pieces drawn from the shop floor, the supply chain and the boardroom, written to be used, not filed.
Building Cathedrals What Frank Devine’s Cathedral Model Teaches Us About Mass Engagement, Culture and Operational Excellence
“People do their best work when they understand they are building something greater than themselves.”
Bettany · 5 min read · 30 Sept 2026Why Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge Matters More Than Ever The Leadership Philosophy Behind Lean, Operational Excellence and Sustainable Performance
“A bad system will beat a good person every time.” — W. Edwards Deming
6 min read · 1 Sept 2026Streamline today, transform tomorrow: a practical model for SME growth
• If the consultants disappeared tomorrow, would the organisation continue improving?
7 min read · 20 Aug 2026Parkinson’s Law Why More Time Rarely Produces Better Results
“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” — C. Northcote Parkinson
8 min read · 3 Aug 2026The DNA of Toyota What Steven Spear Reveals About the Hidden System Behind Sustainable Operational Excellence
“Toyota’s competitive advantage was never its tools. It was the way it learned.”
8 min read · 3 Aug 2026Culture by Design What Edgar Schein Teaches Us About Building Lean Organisations That Endure
“The only thing of real importance that leaders do is create and manage culture.” — Edgar H. Schein
8 min read · 3 Aug 2026Training Within Industry The Forgotten Foundation of Lean Leadership
“Before there was Lean, there was Training Within Industry.”
8 min read · 3 Aug 2026Believe What Ted Lasso Teaches Us About Lean Leadership, Culture and Building High-Performing Organisations
“Be curious, not judgmental.” — Ted Lasso
8 min read · 3 Aug 2026