The premise in this question is that the body of work around Lean has formed a theoretical framework if not an outright theory in a science of enterprise performance. A science of enterprise performance needs to be distinguished from a science of management, management being an incomplete subset of enterprise performance.

While Lean can be contrasted with certain aspects of various ‘schools of management’ especially Scientific Management, Administrative Management and Bureaucratic Management, there is a more practical way to describe tendencies within enterprise performance that run counter the Lean thinking.

I propose we call this counter-Lean approach Bulk thinking. We see it in the large-batch practices, large inventories, belief in large economies of scale, and focus on resource efficiency.

Some tenets of Bulk thinking are sacred, and practiced with the best intentions. The implication in defining Bulk as an antagonist opposed to Lean as protagonist is not that people engaged in Bulk thinking are bad people or have less than pure motives. There is an outright assertion that Bulk thinking will not serve enterprise performance nearly as well as Lean thinking.

Some contrasts: Lean focuses on creating value for the customer. Bulk thinking focuses on creating value for shareholders, or in the case of non-business enterprises such as government narrow groups that may include agency bureaucrats or politicians. Lean thinking focuses on systems thinking. Bulk thinking focuses chart of accounts thinking. Lean thinking removes waste by establishing customer-centric flow. Bulk thinking removes waste by establishing resource efficiency. Lean thinking responds to customer demand. Bulk thinking works to push customer demand. Lean thinking seeks to establish a dynamic learning culture that enhances enterprise performance. Bulk thinking seeks to establish perfect systems from the beginning and when that fails leave improvements to experts.

It’s doubtful whether any enterprise is thinking purely Lean or purely Bulk. So Lean versus Bulk isn’t necessarily an enterprise versus enterprise battle, as it is often a contest between which conversations and actions within an enterprise will prevail when decisions are to be made.