At a recent Lean Competency System (LCS) Level 3 event hosted by the BBC in Manchester, conversation turned to small CI teams making an impact in big organisations. One thing became clear to us all: small doesn't have to mean less effective.
The David vs. Goliath Challenge for CI Teams
If you're leading a small improvement team in a large organisation, you know the struggle:
- Too many opportunities, too few resources
- Competing priorities from different business units
- The challenge of building credibility across diverse functions
- Making improvements stick when you can't be everywhere at once
But here's the good news: small teams can actually have some advantages. You can move faster, pivot when needed and create the kind of close relationships that drive real change.
5 Success Strategies for Small-but-Mighty CI Teams
Based on real experiences from companies that are making it work, here are the game-changing approaches that help small teams deliver outsized results:
1. Be Strategically Selective (Not a Service Desk)
The quickest path to failure? Trying to be everything to everyone.
What works instead:
- Create clear criteria for which projects get your team's time and attention
- Focus on high-visibility challenges that senior leaders care about
- Say no to the small stuff that won't move the needle
- Develop a transparent process for prioritising requests
For example, we’re seeing more people saying things along the lines of "We used to chase 50 small improvements across the business. Now we tackle 5 major challenges a year, and we've tripled our impact."
2. Build a Force Multiplier Network
Your team of 3 can become an army of 30 with the right approach.
How to make it happen:
- Identify potential CI champions in key departments
- Give them focused training in core improvement tools
- Create simple templates they can use independently
- Check in regularly but let them drive local improvements
- Recognise and reward their contributions publicly
It is possible to have two dedicated CI staff build a network of 25 department champions who drive the majority of all improvement work.
3. Make Technology Your Team Member
The right digital tools can dramatically extend your reach.
Smart investments that pay off:
- Project tracking platforms that create visibility across the organisation
- Dashboards that automatically show the impact of improvements
- Self-service knowledge bases of templates and examples
- Collaboration tools that make it easy to share best practices
The possibilities of smart digital approaches include supporting twice as many projects without adding headcount.
4. Speak the Language of Your Business (Not CI Jargon)
Nothing limits your influence faster than sounding like you're from another planet.
How to connect:
- Translate CI terminology into everyday business language
- Focus conversations on outcomes, not methodologies
- Link improvements directly to metrics leadership already cares about
- Tell success stories in business terms, not technical ones
For example, stop talking about 'value stream mapping' and start talking about 'finding ways to speed up customer approvals'.
5. Build Sustainability into Everything
When you can't be everywhere, you need improvements that stick.
Practical approaches:
- Design simple standard work that's easy to follow
- Create visual management that makes abnormal conditions obvious
- Build checkpoints into existing management routines
- Develop clear ownership transitions for when your team steps away
Your 60-Day Action Plan
Ready to boost your small team's impact? Here's where to start:
- Weeks 1-2: Audit your current projects against strategic priorities and be prepared to reprioritise
- Weeks 3-4: Identify 5-7 potential champions across key departments
- Weeks 5-6: Select one technology solution that would extend your team's reach
- Weeks 7-8: Review your communication materials and strip out CI jargon
Learn more about scaling CI with our recent article on your first steps to success.
Need Help Maximising Your CI Team's Impact?
At OpX, we specialise in helping small CI teams deliver outsized results. Our platform gives you the tools to track your impact, build champion networks, and scale your influence across the organisation.
Let's talk about how we can help your team punch above its weight. Book a call today.