Innovation as a Core Capability: Sebastian Fixson on Why Leaders Need Lean Product and Process Development

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, we speak with Sebastian Fixson, PhD, of Babson College, on mentoring the next generation of leaders in lean product and process development (LPPD). Sebastian is the founding faculty director of the doctor of business administration) program and professor of innovation and design, at Babson, where he focuses on helping people and organizations build innovation capabilities. 

Jim Morgan, senior advisor on LPPDat LEI, joins Sebastian and me for this wide-ranging conversation in which we discuss: 

• How to get emerging product leaders to slow down and leverage LPPD to build stronger teams and better businesses 

• How engineers can use LPPD to become more effective business leaders by understanding how the larger business works  

• Sebastian’s advice to product leaders on how to understand both the physical and digital side of the business (as well as how LPPD supports this effort) 

• How to build “process thinkers”, not just product development leaders 
• Where Sebastian sees hope for innovative product development processes, organizations, and/or new ways of working to solve global challenges 

 

Get Started with Lean Product & Process Development  

Improving how you develop and deliver products doesn’t require a full transformation to start—it begins with learning to see problems clearly, involve your team, and improve how work gets done.  

Explore your next step:  

• Read Designing the Future or The Power of Process  

• Take the 60-minute Lean Product and Process Development Overview course  

• Join the coach-led online Designing the Future Workshop for hands-on practice, and the in-person Introduction to Lean Process Development course Oct 7  

• Bring a coach into your organization for customized support  

Let’s take the first step—together. Learn more at lean.org/LPPD »