Kata as a method for Target-Oriented Continuous Improvement

Kata as a word probably first brings to mind the repetitious practice of moves in martial arts. And repetition is definitely the key in that learning process. First you learn the basics of how a punch or kick is delivered. Then, little by little, you get better. You can move faster, the moves follow each other more fluently, there's no need to think.

Kata can be applied also in many other things as a method of target-oriented continuous improvement. The form I will describe here was made popular by Mike Rother in his book Toyota Kata and further instructions to implement the method can be found in Toyota Kata Practice Guide.

First we want to understand where we want to go. What is our vision? This is needed as a north star. It can be something huge and far in the future, but it will help in directing our efforts to correct direction.

Then we definitely want to know that where are we now. What is the current condition? Most probably our current condition is far from our vision, but with the two points we can form a line.

Next we can try to define a meaningful target condition that would be in the direction of our vision. This one should be a bit more realistic to reach within a time horizon of at least couple of months. In enterprise setup the target condition could be at the end of a quarter or year half.

Once we know where we stand currently and have defined our target condition, we probably realise that there is something blocking us from advancing directly to the target. There are things that we don't know and uncertainties. We lack information. This boundary of information is called knowledge threshold. To widen the area of our knowledge and understanding, we can make experiments. Actually a lot of the process is about conducting these experiments. The next part is iterative.

1. We formulate an experiment. Something that will help us increase our knowledge threshold.
2. We list down our assumptions. What do we expect to happen.
3. We conduct the experiment.
4. We list down the results. What actually happened and how did the things go?
5. We analyse the results, reflect and learn from the experience.

Actually those 5 steps are then repeated time after time. As a companion for our experiments we will greatly benefit if we can come up with good metrics to assess our progress. Otherwise it will be difficult to measure if we are actually getting closer to the target or further away from it.