Ideas & Insights

Change is tough. If you’ve been through a major transformation – whether it’s a shift in strategy, process, or technology – you know that resistance is part of the deal. Although it’s hard, over the years I’ve noticed a little something that improves your chance of success: the companies that succeed don’t just have the right strategy. They create the right conditions to generate lasting change. Let’s break down a few core attributes that tend to bear fruit on successful transformation initiatives.

Influence isn’t about authority – it’s about impact. Whether you’re working with peers, managing up, or guiding those who report to you, influence is about how others perceive and trust your input. The good news? You don’t need a leadership title to be influential. What you need is trust, expertise, humility, and the ability to set the right example.

Lean TECHniques is excited to announce that Chief Innovation Officer, Tim Gifford, will be speaking at the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Taking Care of Business Conference on June 11 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

When IT leaders talk about their data, the word “mess” typically comes alongside it. And it’s no wonder. Inconsistent formats, missing data, and scattered information across silos can be overwhelming. But here’s the thing: what if that mess isn’t just something to clean up? What if it’s an opportunity to take your data to the next level? In this post, we’ll guide you through a simple data maturity assessment tool that will help you reframe your mindset on mess, measure where your data practices stand, identify where to focus, and take actionable steps to improve.

At the end of January, Lean TECHniques hosted a virtual lean coffee with product and UX professionals to share stories, swap ideas, and explore what great collaboration really looks like.

Lean TECHniques’ CEO, Brandon Carlson, and Professional Software Consultant, Cameron Presley, were recently featured in the Des Moines Business Record discussing trends to watch over the next 12 months.

In the world of software development, we’re familiar with code smells – those subtle indicators that something might be wrong with our codebase. But what about the smells that signal a disconnect between our development efforts and actual customer value? Let’s dive into four value smells that can provide insight into the true impact of what you are building.

Across professions and hobbies, skill development comes through practice—and coding is no different.

Lean TECHniques’ CEO, Brandon Carlson, and AI Strategy Lead, Kristina Colson, recently shared insights and best practices with the Des Moines Business Record on how to best approach AI governance within an organization.

While most organizations understand the need for a robust IT strategy, the real challenge lies in executing a plan that delivers outcomes truly aligned with long-term business objectives. Here are seven key takeaways from a recent webinar panel we hosted on navigating the annual planning process.