Stakeholder network dynamics and emergent trajectories of lean implementation projects: A study in the UK national health service

Relatively little has been published about the dynamics and mechanisms underpinning the trajectories and outcomes of public service Lean projects. This article addresses this gap by using Actor Network Theory (ANT) to elucidate the dynamics of Lean implementation in a UK hospital trust. The authors show how implementation trajectories play out in complex contexts with multiple and diverse stakeholder constituencies. The analysis provides insights into the process and role of network formation and stabilization in Lean implementation. Finally, the authors discuss the implications of their findings for management practice. © 2008 CIPFA.