What is a "Kaizen" event?

A "Kaizen" event refers to a focused effort aimed at making specific improvements in a targeted area. The term "Kaizen" itself translates to "change for the better" or "continuous improvement" in Japanese, and it embodies the ethos of incremental improvements in processes, practices, and outcomes.

During a Kaizen event, team members gather to analyze a particular process, identify inefficiencies, and propose solutions that can lead to immediate and measurable improvements. This focused approach contrasts with the more extensive scope associated with long-term projects or strategy meetings, which tend to cover broader organizational goals rather than immediate process enhancements.

In the context of Lean IT, Kaizen events are tools for engaging employees at all levels, fostering a culture of improvement, and ensuring that the voices of those who are directly involved in the processes are heard. By concentrating efforts on a single area, organizations can implement changes more quickly and track their effectiveness in real time, ultimately contributing to greater efficiency and better service delivery.