FIVE-QUESTION CARDSfor the

Planning & Executing Phasesof the Improvement Kata

COACHINGKATA

5Q Card & 'At-a-Glance' design by Michael Lombard

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COACHING CYCLES AT ALL STEPS OFTHE IMPROVEMENT KATA PATTERN

1. What is the Target Condition at this step in the Learner’s IK planning ?

2. What is the Current Condition at this step in the Learner’s IK planning ?

3. What obstacles do you think are preventing you from completing this planning step of the IK? Try to focus on one obstacle at a

time to see cause & effect!4. What is your next experiment?

State your theory or hypothesis; it’s an experiment!

5. How quickly can we go and see what we’ve learned from taking that step?

----------> STOP & REFLECT ----------><-------- NOW LOOK AHEAD <--------

Previous Experiment - REFLECTIONRefer to the Learner's PDCA Cycles Recorda) What did you plan as your last step?b) What did you expect?c) What actually happened?d) What did you learn?

Coaching KataThe Five Questions for the PLANNING Phase

1. What is the Target Condition?2. What is the Current Condition?

3. What obstacles do you think are preventing you from reaching the Target Condition? Try to focus on one obstacle at a

time to see cause & effect!4. What is your next experiment?

State your theory or hypothesis; it’s an experiment!

5. How quickly can we go and see what we’ve learned from taking that step?

----------> STOP & REFLECT ----------><-------- NOW LOOK AHEAD <--------

Previous Experiment - REFLECTIONRefer to the Learner's PDCA Cycles Recorda) What did you plan as your last step?b) What did you expect?c) What actually happened?d) What did you learn?

Coaching KataThe Five Questions for the EXECUTING Phase

Kata at a Glance

Current Condition

Next Target Condition

Long-Term Direction

IMPROVEMENT KATA Routines:1. Understand the Direction2. Grasp the Current Condition3. Establish the Next Target Condition4. Iterate Toward the Target Condition

COACHING KATA Routines:

The arrow represents the Improvement Kata mindset:

Hardwire the Kata mindset through daily practice of two sets of practice routines:

• Improvement Kata: Practiced by the Learner, builds scientific skills to drive results• Coaching Kata: Practiced by the Coach, supports the Learner + builds coaching skills

Grey

Zone

• Long-Term Direction = our annual goals, multi-year strategies, big challenges, etc. that move us toward the ideal condition of how we want the business to function

• Next Target Condition = the next “bite out of the apple” we’re looking to take in the next few weeks/months

• Current Condition = where we currently stand in terms of how the business functions

• Grey Zone = we don’t know exactly how we’ll get from Current Condition to Target Condition, but we know how to tackle the obstacles that appear with iterative cycles of experimentation (PDCA)

“Execution” Coaching Cycles Standard “5 Questions”

“Planning” Coaching Cycles Modified “5 Questions”