Consultant Scott Sedam says he can teach what lean practices in the construction industry are and can show companies how to measure their success in achieving lean. He has a lot harder time trying to explain how to create an organizational culture for lean, he writes.

In Professional Builder, Sedam asks, "How do you describe a culture? How do you measure it? How do you create the 10 steps that make it transferable?"

Taking a stab at explaining by example, Sedam cited Jagoe Homes, which had been the magazine's 2010 Builder of the Year. The company is "one of the best implementers of Lean culture I have encountered. What’s different about Jagoe than most builders in that regard? This is where it gets tough."

At the top of Sedam's list of Jagoe characteristics is an "attitude of openiness."

"They have processes and systems that absolutely work and produce continual success, yet they are always seeking improvement," the consultant explains.