10/28/2024
*INSTRUCTOR HIGHLIGHT*
Brian deFonteny
Brian's Philosophy on Business Culture:
"I teach, coach, and write because every employee deserves to be valued, respected, and inspired to contribute to something larger than their assigned job tasks," says Brian, whose journey with Lean Six Sigma began in 2000 when he first encountered the methodology through tool-based training. Recognizing a significant gap, he soon realized the importance of business culture in fostering successful process improvement. His quest to bridge this gap led him to extensive self-study, eventually shifting his focus from tools to the broader business culture over the next 20 years.
Prior to fully dedicating himself to Lean Six Sigma, Brian worked at Tinker Air Force Base for 34 years, with the last 11 years dedicated to process improvement. He then transitioned to the energy sector, where he tirelessly promoted Lean concepts across the enterprise, emphasizing the crucial role of business culture.
Brian's teaching philosophy centers on understanding systemic influences and business culture as fundamental to effective process improvement. He critiques traditional management approaches that focus solely on tools without addressing the broader cultural context, often leading to short-lived improvements.
At the OU Lean Institute, Brian teaches workshops and classes, including Lean Leadership and Gemba Walking. All his teachings are grounded in Dr. W. Edwards Deming's principles of quality improvement, systems thinking, and respectful leadership. Despite challenges, Brian finds tremendous satisfaction in witnessing students transform their leadership and process improvement approaches.
Aa a prolific reader, Brian stays current with industry developments and leverages real-life examples to illustrate Lean principles. He aims to teach a workshop on system thinking, emphasizing a holistic view of organizations rather than focusing on isolated components.
Brian's commitment to fostering a collaborative business culture is evident in his critique of traditional management practices. He underscores the necessity of psychological safety and systemic thinking to drive meaningful and sustainable improvements. Through his work, Brian aspires to transform business leaders' mindsets, guiding them toward a culture that empowers employees and drives continuous improvement.
