The Lean Global Network consists of a growing number of nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations throughout the world devoted to the promotion of lean thinking and the development of lean leaders. Recognizing the benefit of a structured, collaborative interaction among the Affiliates, the member organizations on September 17, 2007, authorized the formation of the non-profit corporation, Lean Global Network, Inc. (LGN), and approved the hiring of a management team. LGN's purpose is to strengthen and grow the network. LGN's operations are supported by the payment of dues from Affiliates.

Member organizations -- known as LGN Affiliates -- are independent, but interact to more effectively share information and accelerate the diffusion of lean knowledge throughout the world. Affiliates offer a variety of educational products and services in four core areas: 1) annual summits; 2) public and in-company educational and training workshops; 3) publications and learning materials; and 4) in-company and collaborative industry research partnerships and lean transformation experiments (lean R&D).

Affiliate benefits include:

• Priority access to some of the world's leading lean "sensei" such as Jim Womack, Dan Jones, and John Shook.
• Early registration and discounts at all affiliate summits and workshops.
• Exclusive access to all affiliate-owned workshops and teaching materials.
• Discounts and exclusive regional translation rights to all affiliate-owned publications and learning materials.
• Early access to new publications and workshops being developed.
• Exclusive access to new research on successful lean transformations around the globe.
• Technical support for developing effective workshops and faculty.
• Technical support for running successful lean organizations -- "how to run a successful Summit", "how to develop an effective communications and marketing strategy", etc.

LGN's operations are overseen by a Board of Directors, an Executive Committee, and a Management Team.

• The Board of Directors approves LGN's mission, budget, policies and general operating plans. Each Affiliate appoints one member to the Board, which currently consists of the following 14 members:

René Aernoudts President, Lean Management Instituut	Arnaldo Camuffo Scientific Director of Lean Enterprise Center	Marcus Chao President, Lean Enterprise China	Lluis Cuatrecasas President, Instituto Lean Management
José R. Ferro President, Lean Institute Brasil	Yalçin Ipbuken President, Lean Institute Turkey	Daniel T. Jones Chairman, Lean Enterprise Academy	Jens Jorgensen Director of Productivity and Innovation, Confederation of Danish Industries
Tomasz Koch President, Lean Enterprise Institute Polska	Braulio Laveaga President, Lean Enterprise Mexico	Gilbert Liégeois President, Institut Lean	S. Sandilya President, Lean Management Institute India
Peter Walsh President, Lean Enterprise Australia	Bodo Wiegand President, Lean Management Institut	James P. Womack Chairman, Lean

• The Executive Committee oversees the day-to-day business operations of LGN and consists of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, and Clerk. The current members of the Executive Committee are:

Chairperson: Daniel Jones, United Kingdom

Vice Chairperson: James Womack, United States

Treasurer: Peter Walsh, Australia

Clerk: Jose Ferro, Brazil

• The Management Team consists of an Executive Director and an Operations Manager. The management team provides assistance to strengthen and grow the network of affiliates by facilitating collaboration and promoting knowledge generation and information sharing. The Management Team is responsible for the day-to-day operation of LGN including drafting policies and standards, reviewing the application of new affiliates, developing tools for information sharing, providing technical assistance, organizing Board meetings, establishing LGN's budget, and collecting dues.

Candidate Affiliates must complete an application. After communicating with the LGN management team, a site visit will be scheduled, a recommendation will be made to the LGN Board, which will vote on the candidacy. To begin the process, please use the guidelines listed below, or write to info@leanglobal.org for more details.

Proposal Guidelines:

Candidate organizations are required to provide information that will help the LGN Management Team and LGN Board understand and assess the organization's:

• PURPOSE: Target markets and audiences (current and evolving); role in developing lean leaders and building the lean community locally
• PROCESS: Plans to develop and disseminate lean thinking in the four core areas; plans to use the web and other resources to create awareness and promote lean thinking
• PEOPLE: Lean capabilities, knowledge, experience, and lean community networks of the management team; plans for governance, management, and operations

The candidate should address:

•  Candidate Organization Data:

•  Candidate Organization Background:

• Why do you want to become a member of the Lean Global Network?
• General description of your organization and capabilities
• Relationship to existing LGN affiliates and activities
• Target audiences and market; alliances; and communications strategy
• Status as a nonprofit organization
• Connections within the Lean Community

 •  Candidate Organization Governance and Leadership:

• Executive Team / Leadership -- CEO, COO, senior advisors, lean experts, etc. (provide names, responsibilities and brief bios that clearly indicate the management team's lean experience and lean community networks)
• Advisory / Oversight Board (if applicable) -- names and roles played (strategy formulation, oversight, industry or academic connections, relationship to the lean community, etc.)
• Organization Chart - including functions/activities of staff

•  Candidate Organization Lean Value Stream Core Activities:

• Publications / Learning Materials / Translations (Plans, purpose, key people, role in overall business strategy)
• Educational & Training Workshops and Materials (including public and in-company educational workshops and management seminars, role in overall business strategy)
• Summits and Forums (identify proposed date, location, theme and keynotes for first Summit if known, role in overall business strategy)
• Partnerships / Lean Research Programs (sponsors and in-company experiments and/or research into lean transformations, role in overall business strategy)

•  Candidate Organization Budget and Finances

Affiliates must submit an audited financial report annually. Please describe:

• How you prepare an annual financial report including information of your fiscal year
• Expected revenue sources and projections for the first two years of operation - by lean activity area if possible
• Projected costs
• Dues to LGN in the first two years (3% of gross revenue is the expected contribution after start-up)