One big international hotel chain tried years ago to turn kindness into a mode of corporate behaviour.

BBC: Why kindness can help businesses grow

Many employees at the national hotel chain, which had recently emerged from bankruptcy, were still stuck in survival mode.

WSJ: Memo to Staff: Take More Risks

As part of the supply chain, the demands placed on you require responsiveness and the flexibility of mixed mode and lean manufacturing methods.

FORBES: A Master Of Complexity: The Manufacturing COO