https://doi.org/10.24928/2026/0114

Hiring for Lean under labor shortages: rethinking “right people” through cognitive diversity

Lynn Shehab¹

Abstract

Lean construction emphasizes the selection and development of the “right people” to support stable production systems and continuous improvement. However, persistent labour shortages are challenging traditional experience-based hiring practices and increasing workforce heterogeneity across construction projects. In this context, cognitive diversity (differences in information processing, problem-solving, decision-making) has become more prevalent, yet remains unaddressed in hiring and workforce design. This paper argues that cognitive diversity should be recognized as a resource rather than a source of variability to be minimized. Building on Lean principles of respect for people and value generation, the paper critiques conventional hiring approaches that prioritize uniformity over cognitive fit with task demands. A conceptual framework is proposed that reframes “right people” in Lean construction as cognitively complementary individuals whose strengths can be aligned with varying task complexities and production needs. By linking labour shortages, hiring decisions, and cognitive diversity, this paper extends existing Lean discussions on human resource management and workforce planning. The proposed perspective supports adaptive and human-centered Lean systems that enhance productivity while improving worker sustainability and retention. The findings contribute to ongoing debates on Lean implementation by highlighting hiring as a critical leverage point for designing resilient production systems under constrained labour conditions.

Keywords

Cognitive diversity, labour shortage, workforce design, production systems, psychology.

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Reference in APA 7th edition format:

Shehab, L.. (2026). Hiring for Lean under labor shortages: rethinking “right people” through cognitive diversity. In Hamzeh, F., Poshdar, M., & Garcia-Lopez,, N. P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 34) (pp. 934–946). https://doi.org/10.24928/2026/0114

Shortened reference for use in IGLC papers:

Shehab, L.. (2026). Hiring for Lean under labor shortages: rethinking “right people” through cognitive diversity. IGLC34. https://doi.org/10.24928/2026/0114