Recession forces Starbucks to think lean

 The retailer thinks Japanese production techniques can help it become more efficient and profitable. But some baristas fear being turned into coffee-brewing automatons.

In an article by by The Wall Street Journal:  Starbucks built its business as the anti-fast-food joint. Now, the recession and growing competition are forcing the coffeehouse giant to see the virtues of behaving more like its streamlined competitors. Under a new initiative being put into practice at its more than 11,000 U.S. stores, there will be no more bending over to scoop coffee from below the counter, no more idle moments waiting for expired coffee to drain and no more dillydallying at the pastry case.  Rest of the article…