In an attem pt to improve efficiency, Starbucks has im plem ented "lean" Japanese techniques at m any o f its 11,000 U.S. stores (The W all Street Journal, August 4 , 2009). By reducing the tim e baristas (employees) spend on bending, reaching, and walking, they will have more tim e to interact with customers and improve the Starbucks experience.

Suppose Starbucks adopts the lean technique at Store 1, but makes no changes at Stores 2 and