The aim of the presentation is to identify the most important cultural conditions which determine the implementation of the Lean Management in Polish universities. The analysis clearly shows that successful implementation of Lean Management is associated with overcoming many cultural barriers, such as: •A fear of loss the traditional identity of the university, which is based on academic values. This may undermine the confidence of customers and other partners for continuity, responsibility and accountability of the university. •Low sense of organizational and financial responsibility for undertaken activities by the staff and top management . •A tendency to avoid problems. This can be explained by the culture which respects individuality of employees in scientific research and teaching. Consequences are: isolationist, defensive attitude, lack of transparency and fragmentation of information. •Lack of acceptance for radical changes in management concepts by conservative part of the university staff . This causes defensive attitude, tension and inability to adapt a cultural and organizational change. •A culture of evaluating which suppresses collaboration, causes an exaggerated concentration on short-term results. An evaluation makes employee responsible for errors, which often stem from faulty systems, also improperly motivates or discourages employee. It should be noted that despite of their conservativeness, universities are gradually opening up for innovation changes in organizational culture. This is necessitated by a high level of environmental instability caused by deficiency of students, turnover of authorities, changes in terms of financing.