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Benjamin Buetfering

The four steps of the Improvement Kata are a model of scientific thinking and acting that’s similar to other models of the human creative process. What’s different is that each step of the Improvement Kata pattern includes structured practice routines, or Starter Kata, that make the pattern actionable and teachable. Use the four steps of the Improvement Kata to describe Lean methods for high variant / low volume production environments

Kata Improvement

Describe the overall Challenge you're striving for, in a meaningful way. What cool situation do you want to have 6 months to 3 years from now? Future-State Mapping is a useful tool here.

 

Study the facts and data of where you are now. You’re trying to see, sketch, measure and understand the current pattern, as an input to Step 3.

Now describe where you want to be next on the way to your Challenge. It will usually take a series of Target Conditions to reach your Challenge goal. Be sure the Target Condition is measureable in some way, and has a specified achieve-by date between one week and three months out.

You can’t foresee the exact path to the Target Condition. The obstacles you encounter show you what you need to work on to get there. Find the path by conducting experiments daily, using the Experimenting Record and asking the Five Coaching Kata Questions after each experiment.

1. What is the target condition?

2. What is the actual condition now?

3. What obstacles do you think are preventing you from reaching the target condition? Which one are you addressing now?

4. What is your Next Step? (next PDCA/experiment) What do you expect?

5. When can we go and see what we have learned from taking that step?

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