Who Can Do Process Improvement?

In this episode of the International Trade Resource Podcast, host Kim Kirkendall chats with Patricia Leebove about what global process improvement really looks like inside international organizations. In this episode, Patricia breaks down how improvement work can range from small, high-impact fixes to full-scale projects — and why the size of the initiative doesn’t determine its value. She and Kim explore how lean principles, thoughtful measurement, and cross-functional collaboration help teams reduce waste, improve customer outcomes, and accelerate revenue.

Patricia also shares the human skills behind successful process improvement, including: facilitation, listening, data literacy, and an ability to translate across functions. She and Kim discuss why the humble spreadsheet is still one of the most used platforms in global organizations. Kim digs into the overlap between process improvement and project management, including practical examples of aligning stakeholders and managing scope.

The conversation then expands into the complexities of global work — from country-specific regulations to cultural norms that shape how teams collaborate. Patricia gives vivid examples, including how compliance expectations differ in Germany and how vacation practices shift dramatically across borders. The episode closes with her framework for assessing improvement maturity using a simple matrix, along with Kim’s invitation for listeners to reflect on their own processes and next steps. Listen now to learn how to apply these global process improvement insights to your own organization!

Key Takeaways

●       Process improvement can be anything from a kaizen-style quick fix to a full project rollout: impact matters more than scale.

●       Cultural norms and regulatory environments vary widely and meaningfully shape global improvement efforts.

●       A maturity matrix offers a straightforward framework for assessing progress and identifying next steps.

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