The Practical Application of Systems Thinking

John Shibley has 30 years of experience leading complex organizational improvement efforts in a variety of industries, sectors, and settings. His practice focuses on the intersection of strategy, innovation and organizational learning. He is a flexible and imaginative consultant with a history of working successfully with a variety of clients and for moving nimbly between Read More …

Learning Kata in the Workplace

The Learning Factor Inc. is a Vancouver-based organization dedicated to making business and labor smarter about learning through innovations in workplace education. Tracy Defoe does this is a variety of ways and one her favorites is the Toyota Kata. In her organization, Tracy plays the role of Chief Education Organizer.  Listen/Download MP3 Business901 iTunes Store Read More …

Kata: The Value of Being Supportive

Tracy Defoe is the president and chief Education Organizer of The Learning Factor Inc. A Vancouver-based organization dedicated to making business and labor smarter about learning through innovations in workplace education. Tracy does this is a variety of ways and one her favorites is the Toyota Kata. That was our primary discussion point for the upcoming Read More …

The Toyota Kata: Know Can Do

In the book, Know Can Do, the authors (Blanchard, Meyer and Ruhe) outline 3 basic obstacles that prevent people from implementing what they learn. These obstacles are: Information Overload – trying to learn too much about too many things Negative Filtering – engaging in negative thought processes that prevent opening our minds to opportunities Lack of Read More …

Toyota Kata a Solution-Focused Approach?

IDEO seemingly popularized the Design Thinking or the Solution-Focused type approach in businesses. It dates back much further than that to numerous people like Robert McKim, Nigel Cross and a host of others. A solution-focused approach has always been something that I have used especially in the design thinking approach when applying. EDCA (Explore-Do-Check-Act). In a Read More …

Brandon Brown: Toyota Kata (Part 2 of 2)

Brandon Brown delivers tangible and sustainable continuous improvement results as a Toyota KataCoach and Lean Instructor/Facilitator as an Associate for the W3 Group. Since 2006, Brandon has been a Professor of Operations Management at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville teaching courses in the Industrial Engineering department such as Lean Production and Leadership Principles and Practices for the Read More …