Kata
型·kata·"form, pattern, routine"
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Kata is a structured routine or pattern that, through practice, builds capability and becomes second nature.
Definition
Kata is a Japanese term meaning "form" or "pattern"—a structured routine that develops skill through deliberate practice. Originally from martial arts, where kata are practiced forms that build technique and capability, the concept applies to any skill development. In lean management, Mike Rother's research identified the Improvement Kata and Coaching Kata—structured routines that Toyota managers practice to develop scientific thinking and problem-solving capability. By practicing kata, behaviors that initially require conscious effort become second nature.
The Improvement Kata
The Improvement Kata is a four-step scientific pattern for working toward challenging goals:
- Understand the Direction - Grasp the challenge or vision you're working toward
- Grasp the Current Condition - Deeply understand where you are now through direct observation
- Establish the Next Target Condition - Define a specific, measurable state to reach within a short timeframe (1-4 weeks)
- Experiment Toward the Target - Run rapid PDCA cycles to move from current to target condition, learning from each experiment
The Five Coaching Kata Questions
The Coaching Kata uses five questions to guide learners through the Improvement Kata:
- What is the target condition?
- What is the actual condition now?
- What obstacles do you think are preventing you from reaching the target condition? Which one are you addressing now?
- What is your next step (experiment)? What do you expect?
- When can we go and see what we have learned from taking that step?
Examples
A supervisor practices the Improvement Kata daily at her team's process. She follows the structured routine: understand the challenge direction, grasp the current condition, establish the next target condition, and run experiments to move toward it. After months of practice, scientific thinking becomes her instinctive approach to problems.
Key Points
- Kata builds capability through structured, repeated practice
- The goal is making effective behaviors automatic and instinctive
- Coaching kata develops others through structured questioning
- Kata connects daily practice to long-term capability development
Common Misconceptions
Kata is just another tool. Kata is not a tool to be deployed but a practice routine that develops capability. The value comes from repeated practice over time, not from understanding the concept.
Kata is rigid and mechanical. While kata provides structure, it develops flexible capability. Like martial arts kata that create instinctive responses, business kata develops adaptive problem-solving skill.