3Cs of Lean Cycles: SDCA, PDCA & EDCA

I think about Lean in three distinctively different ways: Tools: Documentation, problem-solving, development, design Structure: Creating a workflow to traverse between one to the other in a natural progression. Behavior: The way we practice to achieve specific outcomes in an efficient manner. By doing this, it allows me to move from micro to macro thinking Read More …

Addressing the Feedback Loops in OODA

I have spent the last several days searching for a YouTube video, information that discusses the feedback loops that are contained in this drawing of the OODA Loop: It seems when most people discuss OODA,  they spend most of their time talking about Observe-Orient-Decide-Act. Often they compare the process to PDCA which I disagree with Read More …

Improvement Kata in 10 Minutes

Bill Costantino’s classic explanation of the Improvement Kata, originally posted as a SlideCast on November 25, 2011. Awesome! This video can be used to provide some Improvement Kata / Coaching Kata background content for ‘pre-review’ online, prior to classroom or practice activities. From the YouTube description: This video can be used to provide some Improvement Kata Read More …

The Improvement Kata in a Minute

Beth Carrington explains the Improvement Kata in less than a minute. Serves as a nice introduction, especially for sales and marketing folks. But, on Friday we will introduce a 10-minute session, stay tuned! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/rGGid_WvLnk/

The Role of Kata in Marketing

The power of Kata differs than most Lean thinking. Most efforts with Lean in Sales and Marketing focuses on the use of the “Why” question; solving problems and offering solutions. Kata focuses on the “What” creating situational awareness. At the basic level (Why) and what I might call the commodity trap, we still need to solve Read More …

The Role of Kata in Lean

The Improvement Kata + Coaching Kata (IK/CK) are about deliberate practice to develop scientific-thinking skill and mindset. That means IK/CK works well in combination with your existing Lean efforts. Based on the book: Toyota Kata: Managing People for Improvement, Adaptiveness and Superior Results by Mike Rother.   The Five-Question card is available at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mrother/KATA_Files/KC2_Opening.pptx There is a related Read More …