Toyota Kata for Innovation

Toyota Kata for InnovationJason Yip@jchyiphttp://jchyip.blogspot.comj.c.yip@computer.org, jcyip@thoughtworks.comA story of on-site, rapid innovation

Goal: Concrete demo of rapid, onsite, co-creation innovationhttp://nordstrominnovationlab.com/#case_studyhttp://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/lastminutecom-customers-co-develop-mobile-apps/4004895.article

3Goal: Convince the organisation to adopt this kind of approach

OutcomeCould we have done better?This is a Design Thinking process

Not sequential, actually iterativeThe real process is messier but the structure helps you deal with ithttp://dschool.stanford.edu/dgift/Not sequential, iterativeThe real process is messier but the structure helps you deal with it

9This is a Lean Startup process

The real process is messier but the structure helps you deal with itThe real process is messier but the structure helps you deal with itWhat is the essence of structure that helps us deal with a mess?When I ask that question, the first thought that comes to mind is

What is Toyota Kata?

http://www.slideshare.net/mike734/pdca-fast-start15The essence of Toyota Kata is about establishing behavioural routines for systematic, scientific problem-solvingHow might toyota kata apply to (Product/SERVICE) innovation?Innovation Kata

What is the perfect outcome from a customer perspective?Understand the customers job so clearly that the innovation becomes obviousObservation, facts, and data OVER survey and opinionHow does the customers job NEED to work?Experimenting to make better now OVER talking about how to make perfect laterUnderstand the direction

Direction giver, does not need to be achievableImprovements are otherwise randomWhat is the perfect outcome from the perspective of the customer?Grasp the current conditionFocus on understand the customers job before coming up with ideasFocus on the customer jobs, not on the customersUnderstand the customers job so clearly that the innovation becomes obvious

Product-shaped holeThe goal is not to identify a product or service to build but to better understand the customers job so we can improve it (by introducing a product or service)Observations, facts, dataDirect, in-context observationAsking clarifying questions in-contextVideoLogs, records, etc.Survey, opinionFocus groupCustomer surveyOut of context interviewMeeting room discussionsWorkshopsSME opinion

Establish the next target condition

Modified from Toyota Kata by Mike RotherA target is an outcome, and a target condition is a description of a process operation in a way in a pattern required to achieve the desired outcome

Mike Rother, Toyota KataTarget does not equal Target ConditionTarget: The desired customer outcomeTarget condition: A description of how the customer will interact with the product or service to achieve their desired outcomeIterate toward the target condition

Prediction written before the experimentEvidence recorded after the experimentThe specific obstacle to the target condition we are addressing The customers jobIf the next step is unclear, then the answer is almost always, Lets go and see.

What is the perfect outcome from a customer perspective?Understand the customers job so clearly that the innovation becomes obviousObservation, facts, and data OVER interviews and opinionHow does the customers job NEED to work?Experimenting to make better now OVER talking about how to make perfect laterInnovation coaching kata the goal is not necessarily to develop the very best solution today, but to develop the capability of the people in the organization to solve problems.

Mike Rother, Toyota KataThe goal is not just to develop the best product today, but to develop the capability of the people in the organisation to develop products

http://www.slideshare.net/mike734/pdca-fast-startAn innovation story re-toldHow does the story go if we had applied the Innovation Kata?The perfect job for an urban grocery shopperDont have to think too much about what to get good options readily apparentDont have to worry about healthiness of meal all options are goodMinimal walking distance to get everything I need for the meal in and outWhat is urban shopping currently like?Wander around aimlessly funneled by planned path through store, not sure what to get lots of back and forthDesigned for related inventory not for making a mealEasier to just grab a packaged meal or roast chicken

Whats the next target condition?For a core ingredient, have simple meal ideas and supporting ingredients readily nearbyWhats the next experiment?More core ingredientsMore sophisticated mealsQuestions as in my questions to youQuestionsDoes this proposed approach actually solve a problem?Is it actually feasible? What would be the obstacles?What might be the next step if you were to try this where you are?How quickly might we see what we have learned from the next step?