A proposal to add a Value Stream Mapping icon that depicts current & target Improvement Kata skill levels for the supervisors & managers in a value stream.

1. Let's Add
Improvement Kata Skill Level
to Value Stream Maps
A proposal to the Lean community
by Rick Fleming
June 2013

2. What’s the Idea?
In the last few years the Lean topic has expanded to
include not only Lean tools but also an underlying
Lean management process. The latter may currently
be best represented by the “Toyota Kata” research
and practice routines. This is a beneficial
development because both technical and social
elements are important for Lean transformation.
To help get the issue of skill development through deliberate
practice into the minds of management, let's get it on the map
Value Stream Mapping (VSM) has become an indispensible tool
in Lean deployment. Interestingly, however, VSM visualizes
primarily technical issues of material & information flow. It
doesn’t currently show behavioral/skill capability.
I’d like to propose that we expand the suite of VSM icons to
include an indication of Improvement Kata skill level (current and
future state) at the individual processes in a value stream.
Please take a look and let us know what you think…
Rick Fleming
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3. The Improvement Kata
The Improvement Kata is a systematic and scientific training
routine that activates and mobilizes people’s creative capabilities
to achieve challenging goals. It’s a means of developing solutions
and meeting challenges along uncertain paths, and models the
management context within which Toyota's Lean tools were
intended to be applied.
The pattern of the Improvement Kata can be taught to anyone,
but to learn it you have to practice it. It’s a skill you develop.
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4. Improvement Kata Skill Levels
These are three well-known levels of Improvement Kata skill
that you progressively develop through practice
Can Apply
the IK pattern
Can Coach
the IK pattern
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5. We Need a New Icon
Here's a proposal for an IK skill-level icon
to use on CURRENT STATE value stream maps
Can APPLY the IK pattern
Is practicing coaching the IK pattern
Is practicing applying the IK pattern
Has basic AWARENESS of the IK pattern
Unaware of the IK pattern
Can COACH the IK pattern
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6. We Need a New Icon
6
Here's another potential
CURRENT STATE IK skill-level icon
Can APPLY the IK pattern
Is practicing coaching the IK pattern
Is practicing applying the IK pattern
Has basic AWARENESS of the IK pattern
Unaware of the IK pattern
Can COACH the IK pattern
v1.0

7. Use dots to indicate the desired skill level
by the date of your future state map
For example...
Future State:
Can apply the IK pattern
Current State:
Has basic awareness of the IK pattern
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Add Dots
for the Future State
v1.0

8. Whose IK skill level
should appear on a VS map?
With regard to Improvement Kata skill level the key person
is, of course, the coach. In other words, the skill level of the
process owner and their coach should appear on the VS
map. Typically this would be the supervisor or manager and
their manager.
Process Owner
Supervisor/Manager
Process A
Manager
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9. How Would this be Used?
1. On the Current State Map include the IK skill level
of supervisors/managers.
2. On the Future State Map add the dots to show
the target IK skill level of process supervisors and
managers as a Challenge Condition.
3. Apply the normal Improvement Kata / Coaching
Kata routine -- using the 5 Questions & PDCA
Cycles Record – to develop the next target skill
level at each process.
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10. Depicting IK Skill Level
on a Current State Map
Process D Process C Process B Process A
Manager
Supervisor
Supervisor
Current
IK Skill
Levels
Senior
Manager
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11. Target
IK Skill
Levels
Process D Process C Process B Process A
Depicting IK Skill Level
on a Future State Map
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Manager
Supervisor
Supervisor
Senior
Manager
v1.0

12. Time to Experiment
I urge you to experiment with adding IK skill level to
your value stream maps and to report your experiences
and suggestions in the following comment areas.
Give it a try and share your experiences and ideas
How to Comment:
On the LEI Kata page, click on "Post a
Comment" directly under the viewer.
On SlideShare, click on the "Post
Comment" button below the viewer.
12v1.0

13. Best Wishes!
13v1.0

14. I'd like to thank...
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...Mike Rother & Bill Costantino
for their input on this SlideShare
v1.0