What is Kata? An introduction

Overview
Join Coach Mark Rosenthal for an introduction to the Coaching Kata and the Improvement Kata, two routines to bring daily continuous learning to your workplace, as set out in Mike Rother’s Toyota Kata books. Where do these routines come from? Why put in the effort to learn and coach? Mark will take you through the background, reasons and results of practicing the Coaching Kata and the Improvement Kata, helping people solve problems scientifically even when the path isn't clear.
Host Company

Kata School Cascadia (KSC) is one of the world’s most active kata schools. We are based in the Pacific Northwest and welcome people to our community from all over the world. Since 2019, KSC has met every Friday at Noon Pacific on Zoom to talk kata. We host two in-person kata learning events in 2026. Everyone is welcome.https://kata-school-cascadia.org/
Presenter

Mark Rosenthal is a co-founder of Kata School Cascadia and one of our most experienced and thoughtful coaches. After two decades in the trenches of Continuous Improvement, today Mark is a consultant who blogs as ‘The Lean Thinker. As an early adapter to kata coaching, calling it the ‘missing piece’ of the improvement puzzle that makes improvement about developing people. Mark is based in Washington USA.
Agenda
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
11:55 a.m. Check in
12:00 p.m. Introduction
12:05 p.m. Presenter presentation
12:50 p.m. Q&A
1:00 p.m. Webinar concludes
PARTICIPANT BENEFITS
You will understand the origin, purpose and wider application of the two kata routines in developing yourself and others and building a culture of methodical learning.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Leaders curious to learn more about kata a structured, scientific thinking framework for continuous improvement, a way to develop people and build a culture of learning and innovation.
Safety Requirements
OTHER REGISTRATION INFORMATION
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