“Kai” change “Zen” for good .Even if you have never heard of it; there is a possibility of you already practicing it. Let’s take an example of cooking. If you are cooking for the first time, it is very likely you run into many obstacles. You may not easily find where all the ingredients are stored, and then locate the utensils. Once you are settled and starts cooking you realize, it would have been better to prepare the food before you start. You will try to solve each one the challenges as you start cooking regularly. This will involve small gradual changes. Even the recipes will be modified, tried, tested till they are perfected.
The gradual change to improve our process is called Kaizen .We take little steps everyday towards the better condition. This in a company where everyone is empowered to change their own process for good one small step at a time will be able to maintain the momentum for the change knowing how to create a culture is a challenge. Some cultures are more adapted to this philosophy then the other. Masaaki Imai in his book “Kaizen” says that it Kaizen that has helped Japan to masters of “Flexible Manufacturing”. Is it possible to create culture that accepts this philosophy of continuous improvement?