Spanning the Functional Divide

Improvement can fall into two main categories: technical based or people based. Consequently, improvement practitioners usually have specialized in one of these groups. They focus on either processes and products using what could be termed “hard or technical skills” (Lean Thinking, Six Sigma) or they focus on human behavior, using what could be termed “soft skills” (OD, HR Development). However, both skills are required to implement and sustain improvements.