As my friend Skip Steward from Baptist Memorial Health Care says, “Kata plays well with others”. What does that mean? It means that practicing the Kata meta-skills works well as a standalone and it also supports other continuous improvement strategies. So, if your organization is interested in practicing Kata but is worried that doing so would mean abandoning other methods currently being used, don’t fret! As we heard today from Skip and many others, there’s no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater! Practicing Kata and the discipline and curiosity it brings will only enhance your continuous improvement practice…and help your organizations truly serve each of its customers while growing, flourishing, thriving, and fulfilling its purpose for the long-term.
