KATA Training

Is your traditional Lean deployment losing momentum? Have the gains you achieved over time started to erode? KATA Training introduces the concepts of Improvement KATA and Coaching KATA to help organizations create a sustainable culture of continuous improvement and learning.

Many companies aim to improve their business using continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean principles. The most effective way to sustain these improvements is to integrate them into an overall business strategy. KATA Training focuses on Improvement KATA and Coaching KATA—essential but often “invisible” components of Lean that foster a lasting culture of improvement.

Course Objective

The Improvement KATA is a teachable, systematic approach for pursuing goals in complex systems or processes. It consists of routines designed to help people think and work more effectively. The Coaching KATA teaches how to implement the Improvement KATA in your organization, ensuring that the routines are passed on and practiced regularly.

Catalyst Connection consultants will work with your team to develop both the Improvement KATA and Coaching KATA, combining a scientific working pattern with deliberate practice. This training helps participants develop foundational thinking habits for tackling challenging goals in complex systems, empowering teams to make better decisions and navigate problems more effectively.

KATA Training Benefits

Participants will engage in patterned KATA practice, including:

• Improvement KATA: A universal, repeatable method for improving, adapting, and innovating to achieve challenging objectives systematically and scientifically. This involves:
  • Understanding the organization’s vision and direction
  • Grasping the current condition to identify obstacles
  • Establishing the next target condition in the improvement journey
  • Iterating toward the target condition through experiments and learning
• Coaching KATA: A set of routines for teaching the Improvement KATA. The purpose is to develop Improvement KATA skills in daily work through real-world goals and problems. Key questions asked during Coaching KATA include:
  • What is the target condition?
  • What is the current condition?
  • What obstacles are preventing improvement?
  • What are the next steps?
  • What lessons have been learned?

Why KATA Matters

When employees practice the Improvement KATA daily, under the guidance of a coach or manager using the Coaching KATA, organizations become stronger in achieving their goals and addressing challenges. As your team continuously practices Improvement KATA, they apply it to real-world objectives, improving both individual and organizational performance.

The ongoing need for improvement provides a perfect opportunity for you and your team to refine your skills. The powerful effect of practicing the Improvement KATA makes it difficult to return to older, less effective management styles once you’ve experienced its benefits.