The evolution of the higher education sector, aimed at enhancing the teaching and learning environment, is significantly influenced by mounting pressures associated with digitalization and the adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution agenda. Critical success criteria currently promoted by globally influential reform bodies are subject to various internal and external constraints. This study explores potential indicators from a higher education perspective to comprehend better the crucial components essential for effective and successful reform processes. While assessing these characteristics is a common pursuit among scholars in this field, previous research often overlooked the perspectives unique to the higher education milieu, neglecting cultural and contextual factors. This study conducts a comprehensive review focusing on changes within Asian educational institutions. It systematically examines the transformative factors impacting higher education institutions worldwide. The outcome is based on findings from academic works of formal lean implementation in higher education. SLR was used for data analysis, access to significant academic databases, and searching on search engines, notably Elsevier, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, Emerald Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO. The final qualitative analysis comprises a total of 50 articles. Leadership, Governance in Institutional Restructuring and Culture were constructed as a result from the thematic analyses as variables for the higher education sector. For the benefit of future researchers and pertinent parties, some recommendations were highlighted.