Do you remember a post-hippie-era song called “Signs?” The song’s refrain came to mind recently during a workplace walkthrough.

“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?”

                                      —Five Man Electrical Band, 1970

Both office and factory were heavily invested in workplace organization, striving to create a workplace free of confusion. Employees told me, when asked, that they never had to search for anything—ever. The manager who walked with me proudly spoke of their team effort to create order from chaos by sorting out unneeded items—information, material, and equipment. “The employees in each department were the change agents,” he said. “They decided first what should go and then where to place the things they need.”

 …