Scope of optimising I.C.T objectives applying lean principles: An exploratory review

Lean has already been widely implemented in manufacturing industries. To find if lean principles can also be applied in the ICT industry - is the subject of study for this paper. We do not fully answer here crucial questions like; can the lean principles identify and eliminate waste in ICT sector to achieve customer delight? Can it promote business ensuring growth? Can it reduce business costs? Can it improve employee's productivity? However, we define and try to understand key terms used in Lean and ICT separately. Then we try to connect them together and summarize the knowledge and experience gained during the study. Methodology section VI covers an I.C.T related case study and data analysis using statistical tool. Lastly we suggest framework for application of lean principles in search of answer to the critical questions pertaining to quality, productivity, and speed of execution. ICT generally stands for Information Communication Technology. But these three terms may not fully define it because of the constantly and rapidly evolving concepts, method and applications involved in this technology. We authors agree with the opinion that the best way to address ICT is to consider all uses of digital technology used presently to support individuals and organizations with relevant information. Therefore ICT may cover any product that will; store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive information electronically in a digital form such as carried out through personal computers, digital television, e-mail, robots etc [1]. Be it standard office applications like word processing, spread sheet, presentation software or special applications like accounting package, computer aided design - the technology is anyway complex but provides greater autonomy to the satisfaction of individuals and organizations. People generally hold ICT in high regards considering that it seldom fails. But the questions remain to be answered whether the objectives related to quality; Productivity, reliability and speed of execution are fully met. Users want to trust, and generally do. But that trust is undermined often, when the system delivers erroneous information [2].