Quality Time With MoreSteam Thomas Paider and Lean Lessons Learned in 2025
Quality Time with MoreSteam is starting 2026 by bringing back one of the most popular episodes from 2025. Host Dan Swartwout opens the show with a look back at the amazing lineup of guests who joined the show last year, from Shingo Prize winners to Lean Enterprise Institute board members to college professors and healthcare leaders. Then, Dan introduces one of his favorite interviews from last year, the conversation with Thomas Paider.
Tom is the co-author of The Lean IT Field Guide and Vice President for Technology Infrastructure and Computing at Nationwide. He also serves on the Board of Directors for LEI. Think about this. Why do so many people think Lean is just about cutting costs? In reality, Lean is so much more. Tom talks about the misconceptions that hold technology teams back and what really changes when leaders focus on moving people to more valuable work. He explains how Lean, Agile, and DevOps actually fit together. He also talks about why leaders should initially focus on changing their own management system.
Tom talks about what thriving IT cultures look like. He also explains why visual management matters in the IT sector and how going to see different industries sparks creativity. Tom's profound words are worth hearing again in 2026 as Quality Time with MoreSteam kicks off the new year.
In this episode, you will hear about:
0:15 - Dan looks back on 2025
5:53 - Introducing Thomas Paider
7:20 - Tom's Background
10:34 - Working on Y2K
12:11 - Key Messages from the Lean It Field Guide
14:05 - The Operational Definition of IT
15:45 - The First Steps in a Lean IT Journey
19:39 - Misconceptions About Lean in the Technology Space
22:05 - Moving People to More Valuable Activities
24:38 - Agile in IT
28:08 - The Early Days of the Lean IT Transformation at Nationwide
30:12 - Advice for IT Teams Starting Their Lean Journeys
32:51 - Learning from Other Industries
35:24 - Overcoming Resistance
37:55 - Lean, Agile, and DevOps
42:18 - Tom's Proudest Moments at Nationwide
44:00 - Peyton Manning
45:02 - The Future of Lean Technology
48:19 - Tom's Experiences as a Runner
Additional Resources:
The Lean IT Field Guide: A Roadmap for Your Transformation
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