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What is Toyota Kata?
Toyota Kata is an iterative improvement approach that develops scientific thinking through deliberate practice of structured routines. Rather than teaching specific problem-solving tools, it builds the underlying thinking patterns that make people effective at working through any challenge.
The term “Kata” comes from martial arts, meaning a practice routine you repeat until it becomes second nature. Toyota Kata uses Starter Kata—foundational practice routines—to help anyone develop the scientific thinking habits that drive continuous improvement.
Course Overview
Learn the foundational practice routines—called Starter Kata—that develop scientific thinking for continuous improvement. This hands-on introduction focuses on the Improvement Kata pattern that you’ll use to work through your own challenges, with an introduction to how coaching supports that practice.
Who Should Attend
Managers, supervisors, team leaders, operators, students, engineers, knowledge workers, continuous improvement practitioners, and anyone interested in building scientific thinking and problem-solving capability.
What You’ll Learn
Scientific Thinking Foundations
What scientific thinking is and why it matters for problem-solving.
How to work through uncertainty by experimenting and learning.
The difference between assumptions and facts.
Why daily practice builds capability.
The Improvement Kata Starter Kata
The four-step pattern for working through unclear problems.
How to grasp current condition based on facts, not assumptions.
Setting effective target conditions.
Experimenting your way through obstacles.
Using the storyboard format.
Improvement Kata Cycle
The Coaching Kata (Brief Overview)
The Five Coaching Questions.
How coaching cycles support learning.
Practical Application
How Toyota Kata strengthens A3 thinking.
Starting your own Improvement Kata practice.
What You’ll Do
Participate in hands-on breakout exercises.
Experience the Five Questions from the perspective of a learner.
Practice working through a challenge using the Improvement Kata pattern
Identify a specific challenge to begin your own practice
Note: You’ll be learning as a practitioner of the Improvement Kata. Developing coaching proficiency requires extended practice and will be covered in future advanced training.
What You’ll Take Home
Five Questions reference card.
Improvement Kata storyboard template.
Links to free Starter Kata resources.
A clear first step to begin practicing.
