An assessment of the impact of lean framework design and lean enablers on business operational performance

Abstract

Purpose The research explores the relationships between the effectiveness of lean framework design, lean implementation enablement and business operational success, thereby establishing a broader ground for successful lean implementation. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was used to collect data across various industries in South Africa. A total of 198 valid responses were obtained and analyzed using SMART-PLS 4. Findings A strong relationship was found between effective lean framework design, lean implementation enablement and business operational success. Also, lean implementation enablement mediates the relationship between lean framework design effectiveness and business operational success. This result indicates that paying proper attention to a lean enabling environment increases the likelihood of improving operational performance through the adoption of lean frameworks. Originality/value Researchers have attempted to understand how the presence of enablers affects the success of lean, and the role of lean frameworks in the success of lean implementation. No study has considered contextualized framework design and the mediatory influence of lean enablers on the effectiveness of lean frameworks, and their interactive influence on the success of lean implementation. By grounding this investigation in contingency theory and socio-technical systems theory, this study addresses this gap. It illuminates how organizations can strategically integrate framework design with lean enablers to achieve superior operational performance.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Benchmarking An International Journal, 2026 · DOI ↗