Table 2 Lean adoption success factors identified in the 19 selected articles

Theme: Strategy

Define strategy

[14, 35, 37,38,39, 45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52]

Define value

[37, 38, 45, 47, 48, 52]

Implementation timeline

[39, 45, 47, 50]

Implementation process

[14, 38, 39, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53]

Contextualisation

[46, 47, 49, 54, 55]

Management commitment

[14, 35, 37, 38, 46,47,48,49,50, 53, 54, 56]

Follow-up

[14, 36, 38, 39, 41, 45,46,47,48, 52]

Theme: Resources

Financial resources

[39, 45, 47, 56]

Supporting resources

[3, 39, 52, 56]

Expertise

[14, 39, 49, 52, 56]

Healthcare staff structure

[36, 39, 46, 47, 53, 54]

Data collection

[36]

Process variability

[14, 37]

Defining waste

[14, 37]

Implementation team

[38, 46, 47, 49, 56]

Theme: Engaging People

Patient engagement

[45, 47, 56]

Employee engagement

[38, 39, 45, 47, 49, 50, 52, 56]

Physician engagement

[39, 54, 56]

Management engagement

[14, 39, 41, 46, 50, 52]

Employee training

[14, 35, 37,38,39, 41, 46,47,48,49, 52, 54]

Lean philosophy

[14, 37, 45, 47]

Facilitator training

[38, 39, 46, 47, 52, 56]

General communication

[39, 46, 47, 50, 52]

Interdepartmental cooperation

[35,36,37, 39, 45, 47, 54]

Progress communication

[35, 45, 47]

Terminology

[36]

Theme: Organisational Culture

Supportive culture

[14, 39, 45,46,47,48,49, 56]

Readiness and resistance

[14, 35, 36, 45, 47, 49, 50, 52, 56]

Normalisation of initiative

[36, 39, 46,47,48, 52,53,54, 56]

Learn from mistakes

[14, 56]

Organisational momentum

[35, 36]

Leadership style

[35, 39,40,41]