Kata Storyboard 3.0 Template

This is a Kata Storyboard (version 3). Use this board for team-based problem-solving - or to navigate any situation where the path to reaching an objective is unclear.

Used by anyone leading a continuous improvement or Lean effort - to help a team determine next steps as they work through PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act/Adjust) cycles while driving toward a target condition - in alignment with a "challenge."

The board aligns with the Improvement Kata process outlined in Mike Rother's book, "Toyota Kata," which is a 4-step (repeating cycle):

1) Understand the Direction

2) Grasp the Current Condition

3) Establish the Next Target Condition

4) PDCA Toward the Target Condition

The team works through the 4 steps, until they either reach the Target Condition, or reach a "Threshold of Knowledge," which is an Obstacle that requires investigation/experimentation in order to overcome. To overcome the Obstacle and move beyond the Threshold of Knowledge, the team utilizes Scientific Thinking, which is captured in the 5 Questions on the Kata Coaching Card (essentially a standardized/structured PDCA cycle).

This (version 3) board includes text fields to name the board, state the Challenge, enter the team member names, record Start Date for the most recent Current Condition, and Achieve By Date for the Target Condition. There is a (new) Challenge Milestones & Initiatives section for multi-phased projects (including VSM) that have pre-defined milestones that the User can capture for visibility.

Use the red sticky note stack to define the Current and Target Conditions - and turn each sticky green when achieved.

The Obstacles sticky stack cards are pre-defined with elements from the Five Questions Coaching Kata card (for the team to record steps while working through the Improvement Kata, but also used during the Coaching Kata when reviewing the PDCA Cycle Record):

• Obstacle?

• Next Step?

• Expected Outcome?

• Actual Outcome?

• Lessons Learned?

The Obstacles cards also included Status, Assignee, Start Date, and End Date fields.

There are also Coaching Kata navigation tools built into the Version 3 board, which are designed to guide the Coach and Learner through each Kata Coaching Cycle.

Begin the Coaching Cycle by clicking on the small arrow next to the stoplight in the top left corner of the board (labeled "Begin Coaching Cycle"). This will zoom in on the Challenge Statement. To advance through each step of the Coaching Cycle, continue to click the small arrow in the upper right corner of each section, which will take you through the following sections of the board:

• Challenge Statement

• Challenge Milestones & Initiatives

• 4 Steps & Threshold of Knowledge (note the moveable square that the team will use to identify which stage they stopped when they reached their Threshold of Knowledge)

• Coaching Kata Questions (for reference)

• Target Condition

• Current Condition

• Obstacles Parking Lot

• PDCA Cycles Record

Note: for the Coaching Cycles Navigation to work correctly, each Kata board must be downloaded from the Miroverse. If the board is copied and pasted from another board, the navigation will apply to the original board.

Thank you for trying the board. If you have feedback, please reach out.

And always remember: YA GOTTA KATA!!