Importance of first-line employees in lean implementation in SMEs : a systematic literature review

Knapić, Viktorija (avtor), Rusjan, Borut (avtor), Božič, Katerina (avtor)

Purpose – Existing research evidence shows a fragmented understanding of the roles of first-line employees (FLEs) as essential factors for successful lean implementation in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), provoking recent calls for additional research on the identification of enablers and barriers for lean acceptance among workers. Therefore, this paper aims to identify related enablers and barriers to lean implementation among FLEs and determine future research avenues for improving the understanding of lean methodology implementation in SMEs. Design/methodology/approach – Relying on a systematic literature review methodology, the authors aimed to synthesize and evaluate available peer-reviewed papers on the role of FLEs in lean implementation in SMEs. General descriptive and thematic analysis comprehensively depicted the selected research topic and identified the main themes within collected papers and potential future research questions. Findings – The authors identified four main themes related to FLEs’ role in lean implementation: cultural change factors, employee characteristics, management involvement and lean job design. Within each theme, the authors present a comprehensive overview of FLE-related factors and associated enablers and barriers that should be considered for a successful lean implementation in SMEs. Practical implications – The research outcomes are important to practicing managers in SMEs, helping them facilitate lean acceptance and enhance the likelihood of successful lean implementation. Originality/value – The insights from this study present building blocks in developing a lean implementation model for SMEs that considers the FLEs’ role more comprehensively.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: entrepreneurship, SMEs, leadership, enablers and barriers, first-line employees, lean implementation, small- and medium-sized enterprises
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: EF - Ekonomska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2023
• Št. strani: Str. 277-308
• Številčenje: Vol. 14, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-138372
• UDK: 658
• ISSN pri članku: 2040-4166
• DOI: 10.1108/IJLSS-08-2021-0141
• COBISS.SI-ID: 112112899
• Datum objave v RUL: 18.07.2022

KNAPIĆ, Viktorija, RUSJAN, Borut in BOŽIČ, Katerina, 2023, Importance of first-line employees in lean implementation in SMEs : a systematic literature review. International journal of lean six sigma [na spletu]. 2023. Vol. 14, no. 2, p. 277–308. [Dostopano 16 april 2025]. DOI 10.1108/IJLSS-08-2021-0141. Pridobljeno s: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=slv&id=138372

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: International journal of lean six sigma
• Založnik: Emerald
• ISSN: 2040-4166
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517409049

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: podjetništvo, mala in srednja podjetja, vodenje

Projekti

• Financer: ARRS - Agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P5-0410
• Naslov: Digitalizacija kot gonilo trajnostnega razvoja posameznika, organizacij in družbe