Using the Toyota Improvement Kata to solve hard problems Hibri Marzook Principal Consultant All things Agile, TDD and Continuous Delivery Contino @hibri Adarsh Shah Technology Leader, Coach, Hands-on Architect Independent Consultant @shahadarsh 
 shahadarsh.com 

@shahadarsh @hibri Toyota Kata Mike Rother Toyota Production System 

@shahadarsh @hibri Toyota Kata Toyota Kata = Improvement Kata + Coaching Kata 

@shahadarsh @hibri The Improvement Kata Routine for moving from the current situation to a new situation in a creative, directed, meaningful way. 

@shahadarsh @hibri Solution 
 options Current Condition Usual way of problem solving Find current issues Find options available to resolve Solution Apply 1 or more solution 1 2 3 

@shahadarsh @hibri Long-term Vision 1 Target Condition 3 Current Condition 2 Experiments 4 X X X Zone of Uncertainty The Improvement Kata 

@shahadarsh @hibri VSM & Toyota Kata Long-term Vision Target Condition Target Condition Target Condition Next Target Condition Next Target Condition Next Target Condition Challenge Practicing the Improvement Kata and Coaching Kata involves everyone X X X X X X X X X Setting direction with VSM is responsibility of a few people 

@shahadarsh @hibri Target condition - is not about • Not about avoiding negative outcomes • Not an either/or choice between existing options • Does not mean setting a stretch goal 

@shahadarsh @hibri Target condition - is about • Achieving new outcomes • Aiming for all attributes. “and” not “or” • Giving people challenges and teaching them an effective way of meeting them 

@shahadarsh @hibri Kata Solution Scientific Thinking + Practice routine 

@shahadarsh @hibri Metacognition Combining a simple scientific striving pattern with practice routines called Kata helps you teach meta- cognitive strategies Metacognition = "cognition about cognition” 

@shahadarsh @hibri Scientific Thinking A continuous process of applying rigorous skepticism to learn from the difference between our predictions and reality 

@shahadarsh @hibri Babies do it (you can too) https://science.sciencemag.org/content/348/6230/91 Infants use “unexpectedness” as a cue for learning. 

@shahadarsh @hibri Scientific Thinking Learning What actually happens What we expect to happen 

@shahadarsh @hibri Scientific Thinking Learning What actually happens What we expect to happen Learning What actually happens What we expect to happen Learning What actually happens What we expect to happen Next target condition Current condition 

@shahadarsh @hibri Deliberate practice 

@shahadarsh @hibri Neuroplasticity We can rewire our brains 

@shahadarsh @hibri “You must unlearn what you have learned.” - Yoda 

@shahadarsh @hibri Case study: Major Stock Exchange 

@shahadarsh @hibri Context Migrate apps to cloud Multi-cloud support Automate 

@shahadarsh @hibri Initial plan Semi-automated
 process 1 Multiple manual
 approvals ——————— No connectivity 
 to on-prem ——————— 4-6 weeks ——————— Security challenges Current State Combine 
 approval meetings Schedule weekly approval meeting Introduce SLA for approval 

@shahadarsh @hibri Kata in action IPAM Account provisioning Self service 
 environment
 provisioning Challenge Automated Sandbox 
 provisioning
 ———————————- AWS US Region only ——————————— Connectivity back to on-prem network ——————————- Under 30 mins Automated 
 Sandbox
 provisioning 3 1st Target condition Semi-automated
 process 2 Multiple manual
 approvals ——————— No connectivity 
 to on-prem ——————— 4-6 weeks ——————— Security challenges Current State Platform as a Product 1 Vision Leadership ————— Visibility —————- Messaging 4 Experiments X X X 

@shahadarsh @hibri Kata in action Experiments X X X IPAM Account provisioning Self service 
 environment
 provisioning Challenge Automated Sandbox 
 provisioning
 ———————————- AWS US Region only ——————————— Connectivity back to on-prem network ——————————- Under 30 mins Automated 
 Sandbox
 provisioning 3 1st Target condition Semi-automated
 process 2 Multiple manual
 approvals ——————— No connectivity 
 to on-prem ——————— 4-6 weeks ——————— Security challenges Current State Platform as a Product 1 Vision Leadership ————— Visibility —————- Messaging Automated QA 
 provisioning
 ———————————- AWS US Region only ——————————— Connectivity back to on-prem network ——————————- Under 30 mins Automated 
 QA
 provisioning 5 2nd Target condition Experiments X X X 4 

@shahadarsh @hibri Scientific thinking & Deliberate practice • Infrastructure as Code • Test automation • Pair programming • Driver-navigator model (Coaching Kata) 

@shahadarsh @hibri Case study: Major Online Gambling Platform 

@shahadarsh @hibri Context 

@shahadarsh @hibri Kata in action Experiments X X X Pair programming Try TDD Stable product Challenge Unstable Product 2 No CI ——————— Manual tests ——————— No collaboration ——————— Prod outages Current State A reliable and performant platform 1 Vision Leadership ————— Visibility —————- Messaging Automated tests for key journeys
 ———————————- Tests run as part of CI ——————————— Start doing TDD ——————————- Collaborative ways of working 3 1st Target condition 10 or more stable Releases Experiments X X X Mock dependencies Deal with outside interruptions 

@shahadarsh @hibri Scientific thinking & Deliberate practice • Standups • Test Driven Development • Pair programming • 3 Amigos • IaC to for test environments 

@shahadarsh @hibri We failed 

@shahadarsh @hibri Kata in action Experiments X X X Stable product Challenge Automated tests for key journeys
 ———————————- Tests run as part of CI ——————————— Start doing TDD ——————————- Collaborative ways of working 3 1st Target condition Unstable Product 2 No CI ——————— Manual tests ——————— No collaboration ——————— Prod outages Current State A reliable and performant platform 1 Vision Leadership ————— Visibility —————- Messaging 10 or more stable Releases STOP 

@shahadarsh @hibri What can you start doing next week? If you are a leader • Vision • Deliberate Practice • Scientific Thinking If you are a doer • Vision • Deliberate Practice • Scientific Thinking 

@shahadarsh @hibri Book recommendations 

Questions Hibri Marzook Principal Consultant Contino @hibri Adarsh Shah Technology Leader, Coach, Hands-on Architect Independent Consultant @shahadarsh 
 shahadarsh.com