What do you think?
Rate this book
Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap: 12 Questions to Understand What's Truly Underneath Your Culture
Seeking the best way to understand your company’s operations and leadership, hoping to finally see what’s truly underneath your culture? Take a trip with business performance coach Patrick Adams inside two different cultures -- one you’d like to avoid and one you’d like to emulate -- and then ask yourself the right questions. The answers may lead you -- and your organization’s various stakeholders -- somewhere extraordinary.
A Fantastic Account of Two Companies with Very Different Cultures
Avoiding the Continuous Appearance 12 Questions to Understand What’s Truly Underneath Your Culture is a transformational book that weaves together the stories of two companies that, on the surface, appear to be quite similar. Underneath, however, they couldn’t be more different. There is a devastating distinction between being a company dedicated to continuous improvement and being one that’s about “continuous appearance” instead. The 12 questions that Patrick Adams outlines in his debut book for business leaders give readers the ability to assess their operations. At last, a practical guide to better understanding your company’s leadership and culture.
Step inside “Company Continuous Improvement” and its counterpart, “Company Continuous Appearance.”
---------------
“Patrick Adams contrasts the cultures of two companies he worked for and, though each started with similar lean models and visions, one was mechanistic and only gave the appearance of lean, while the other developed an actual culture of continuous improvement. The contrast provides a vivid example of the difference between fake lean and true lean.”
-- Dr. Jeffrey Liker , Author of The Toyota Way , Second Edition
-----------------
After reading Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap , you
-- Have a clear understanding of whether your culture is one of appearance or of true continuous improvement
-- Have completed a powerful assessment of your operations and leadership
-- Establish a roadmap and priority list for organizational experiments that will lead to positive transformation
-- Determine a new outlook of fake lean versus real lean.
---------------
“In today’s culture, we’re all familiar with the term ‘fake news,’ but there’s also something called ‘fake lean.’ Patrick Adams lays out, in a very succinct way, the telltale signs of authentically lean and fake lean. There couldn’t be a better analysis for all of us to make sure we’re not posers but our efforts are the real thing.”
Paul A. Akers , Author of 2 Second Lean
---------------
A Fresh, Practical Look at Lean Management, Through Stories and Cautionary Tales
There is no shortage of books about lean management and continuous improvement. But Patrick Adams offers something refreshing, memorable, and immediately applicable -- a book that cuts through the clutter and shows you the way. Patrick gives readers an insider’s view of what happens when continuous improvement strategies are backed up by dedication and action ... and what happens when they’re not.
It’s time to develop a true culture of continuous improvement. Join Patrick Adams in uncovering the truth about your culture and discovering how 12 simple questions can provide direction for true and sustainable transformation for your organization.
A Fantastic Account of Two Companies with Very Different Cultures
Avoiding the Continuous Appearance 12 Questions to Understand What’s Truly Underneath Your Culture is a transformational book that weaves together the stories of two companies that, on the surface, appear to be quite similar. Underneath, however, they couldn’t be more different. There is a devastating distinction between being a company dedicated to continuous improvement and being one that’s about “continuous appearance” instead. The 12 questions that Patrick Adams outlines in his debut book for business leaders give readers the ability to assess their operations. At last, a practical guide to better understanding your company’s leadership and culture.
Step inside “Company Continuous Improvement” and its counterpart, “Company Continuous Appearance.”
---------------
“Patrick Adams contrasts the cultures of two companies he worked for and, though each started with similar lean models and visions, one was mechanistic and only gave the appearance of lean, while the other developed an actual culture of continuous improvement. The contrast provides a vivid example of the difference between fake lean and true lean.”
-- Dr. Jeffrey Liker , Author of The Toyota Way , Second Edition
-----------------
After reading Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap , you
-- Have a clear understanding of whether your culture is one of appearance or of true continuous improvement
-- Have completed a powerful assessment of your operations and leadership
-- Establish a roadmap and priority list for organizational experiments that will lead to positive transformation
-- Determine a new outlook of fake lean versus real lean.
---------------
“In today’s culture, we’re all familiar with the term ‘fake news,’ but there’s also something called ‘fake lean.’ Patrick Adams lays out, in a very succinct way, the telltale signs of authentically lean and fake lean. There couldn’t be a better analysis for all of us to make sure we’re not posers but our efforts are the real thing.”
Paul A. Akers , Author of 2 Second Lean
---------------
A Fresh, Practical Look at Lean Management, Through Stories and Cautionary Tales
There is no shortage of books about lean management and continuous improvement. But Patrick Adams offers something refreshing, memorable, and immediately applicable -- a book that cuts through the clutter and shows you the way. Patrick gives readers an insider’s view of what happens when continuous improvement strategies are backed up by dedication and action ... and what happens when they’re not.
It’s time to develop a true culture of continuous improvement. Join Patrick Adams in uncovering the truth about your culture and discovering how 12 simple questions can provide direction for true and sustainable transformation for your organization.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
Published January 11, 2021
14 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 18, 2023
12 questions - 12 guidelines
There are many ways to approach “continuous improvement” in organizations, and this book uses a set of questions to guide the reader in thinking about how to create such a culture in their organization. I liked the juxtaposition of two different companies where the concepts worked and didn’t work. But at the same time, it felt like the negative examples were almost too obvious - lack of the solution examples. Maybe that was the point.
There are many ways to approach “continuous improvement” in organizations, and this book uses a set of questions to guide the reader in thinking about how to create such a culture in their organization. I liked the juxtaposition of two different companies where the concepts worked and didn’t work. But at the same time, it felt like the negative examples were almost too obvious - lack of the solution examples. Maybe that was the point.
January 10, 2022
Good book on Lean Culture. I liked how the author organized the book by the 12 questions you need to ask to understand your culture. He does a good job of showing both the real but also fake versions of each of those questions. I found myself relating to both and thinking back to places I have worked.
March 27, 2021
A great book! Wanderful summary for the ones familiar with lean thinking, but also ABC for reflection and “call to action”. Author privides illustrative examples, that are so easy to relate to. I wished more people would familiarize themselves with the content and take action upon it!
May 4, 2021
Wow!!! i finished the book today, Patrick instills in a single book his experiences implementing Lean in companies. The way that he structure the book provides not only with the sequence to implement, but a great tool to assess the journey of lean in either manufacturing or service. Great read!!
July 4, 2024
The book takes you to practical business life,
Thanks patrick adam for this joureny, and for your insights along the book
I love the practical tips you've shared to move to real continual Improvment culture
Thanks patrick adam for this joureny, and for your insights along the book
I love the practical tips you've shared to move to real continual Improvment culture
May 21, 2023
Nailed It!
We all have worked in or with a continuous appearance organization. Most improvement books tell you the how and why. Patrick does a great job of identifying what.
We all have worked in or with a continuous appearance organization. Most improvement books tell you the how and why. Patrick does a great job of identifying what.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews