AME - The Improvement kata: Learn a pattern for real daily improvement

February 27, 2025 | 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Pacific Time
Contact AME: 224-232-5980 | events@ame.org
Fees
Member fee: $149
Non-Member fee: $199
Consortia Member: $119

Location

Virtual
OVERVIEW

This introductory two-hour virtual workshop will give you first-hand experience with the popular Improvement Kata pattern in an individual or small group activity. A scientific thinking pattern is at the heart of a continuous improvement mindset. The Improvement Kata as described by Mike Rother in his Toyota Kata books is a way to operationalize learning and practicing a structured approach to developing that mindset in yourself and others.   Sometimes called a pattern for real daily improvement, Improvement Kata practice makes learning, process analysis, and steps or experiments visible, often uncovering assumptions and habits. 

Join this workshop if you are curious about the Improvement Kata, if you are a Lean or CI practitioner who is ready to learn kata coaching but needs the basics first, or if you are a kata practitioner looking to refresh your skills. The workshop will take place on Zoom. Camera and microphone required. We will also use a Mural board, as visitors, to run the process and to track our experiments and learnings. Each participant or pair if in the same room will need a deck of playing cards. There will be time in this workshop for reflection on learning, a key element in practicing the Improvement Kata. There will also be time for questions. 

 

HOST COMPANY

TLFI The Learning Factor Inc is the professional home of Tracy Defoe. This consulting company is almost totally focussed on growing and supporting scientific thinkers and great coaches. Find her at www.thelearningfactor.ca or on Linked In www.linkedin.com/in/tracydefoe/
 

 

 

Kata School Cascadia is an group of passionate coaches who live in the Pacific Northwest.  They have free resources, and free Friday zooms to bring the kata community together to learn and share. Kata School Cascadia 

PRESENTER

Tracy Defoe is an adult educator specializing in learning at work. About ten years ago she started coaching to develop a scientific mindset in people improving their processes at work using the Improvement and Coaching Kata detailed in Mike Rother's Toyota Kata books. She is cofounder of the global women's group Kata Girl Geeks, cofounder of Kata School Cascadia, and a facilitator with Tilo Schwarz's Kata Coaching Dojo Masterclass. For the last five years, Tracy has hosted a weekly free community zoom for kata coaches. Tracy describes herself as a kata learner, coach and second coach. Her consulting firm is called TLFI The Learning Factor Inc. She has many years as a workshop facilitator and promised her sessions are active, fun and memorable. Tracy will also be at AME 2025 in Louisville! Links: The Learning Factor https://thelearningfactor.ca/ Kata School Cascadia https://kata-school-cascadia.org/

AGENDA

Thursday, February 27, 2025

8:55 a.m.   Check in

9 a.m.        Introduction and Background

9:15 a.m.   Run a process and practice the Improvement Kata

10:30 a.m. Reflections, Learnings and Questions

11 a.m.      Workshop concludes

PARTICIPANT BENEFITS
  • Developing a curious continuous improvement mindset in context
  • The importance of a Challenge and how to craft one a meaningful one
  • The 5 steps of the Improvement Kata pattern 
  • The Kata storyboard as a communication and analysis tool
  • The difference between targets and target conditions
  • The experimenting or learning record, and how to use one
  • Obstacles, why we love them and how to think about them
  • Practice with reflecting on learning – the heart of developing yourself and others
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
  • Executives and senior leaders, team managers, and supervisors who lead or take part in developing people through continuous improvement efforts.
  • Anyone curious about the Improvement Kata
  • Those who are frustrated with improvements that don’t stick, or with having to do everything themselves
OTHER REGISTRATION INFORMATION

We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone to fully participate and engage. Please email events@ame.org if you have any questions.

If you are not already a member of AME, we invite you to join at this time. Membership benefits include complimentary and discounted event registrations throughout the entire year. To learn more about membership benefits, please visit here.

By participating in this event, you grant AME, or anyone authorized by AME the right to use or publish in print or electronic medium any photograph or video containing your image or likeness for educational, news, or promotional purposes, without compensation.

To fully participate in an AME virtual event, a high-speed internet connection, speaker/headphones, microphone, and webcam are needed. While not required, you will have a better online experience if you do not use wireless internet service. A wired/ethernet connection will have a stronger signal than wireless. Live captioning will be available for this event. Make sure you download the Zoom Client for Meetings desktop application for the best experience. Do not use the version available through your web browser, as it has limited features. zoom.us/download.

Cancelation Policy: This event may be canceled by AME for any reason. AME is not responsible for incidental costs incurred by registrants. For paid events, registration fee less a $20 administration fee will be refunded up to one week before the event. Substitutions may be made up to three days prior to the start of the event.