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S.T.A.R.T - S.M.A.R.T Kata Coaching

This program trains participants to apply Toyota Kata routines for scientific problem-solving, structure their goals with SMART, and simplify learning with the START acronym. Together, these frameworks provide clarity, discipline, and memorability to improvement work.

START SMART Kata Coaching

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the principles of Toyota Kata and its improvement & coaching routines.

  2. Apply the START acronym as a simplified entry point to the Kata routine.

  3. Develop target conditions and experiments framed as SMART goals.

  4. Practice the Coaching Kata to reinforce scientific thinking.

  5. Apply these approaches to real-world problems and sustain them as daily habits.

Module 1

Foundations of Continuous Improvement

  • Toyota Kata:

    • Improvement Kata: navigating from actual condition to target condition.

    • Coaching Kata: teaching and reinforcing scientific thinking.

  • Why combine with SMART & START?: SMART adds clarity to goals, while START makes steps easy to recall.

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Module 2

The START Acronym

The START acronym simplifies the Toyota Kata steps:

  • S – Set Target (determine the target condition)

  • T – Track Reality (determine the actual condition)

  • A – Analyze Results (reflect on the last outcomes)

  • R – Remove Roadblocks (identify the obstacles)

  • T – Test Next Step (determine next steps and how fast to test learning)

Why START? It emphasizes that every improvement cycle is about starting again, building momentum through repetition.

Module 3

SMART Goal-Setting

Each START step can be sharpened with SMART goals:

  • Specific → Define the target clearly.

  • Measurable → Track reality and results with metrics.

  • Achievable → Ensure experiments are realistic.

  • Relevant → Focus on obstacles that align with business priorities.

  • Time-bound → Set timelines for tests and reflections.

Module 4

Practicing the Coaching Kata with START + SMART

The Coaching Kata’s 5 questions align neatly with START and SMART:

  1. Set Target – What is the target condition? (SMART: Specific, Relevant, Time-bound)

  2. Track Reality – What is the actual condition now? (SMART: Measurable)

  3. Remove Roadblocks – What obstacles are preventing progress? (SMART: Relevant)

  4. Test Next Step – What is your next step/experiment, and what do you expect? (SMART: Achievable, Time-bound)

  5. Analyze Results – When can we see what we learned? (SMART: Measurable, Time-bound)

Module 5

Application Workshop

  • Step 1: Teams select a real process issue (e.g., onboarding, waste reduction, quality errors).

  • Step 2: Apply START to outline the improvement cycle.

  • Step 3: Refine each START step with SMART criteria.

  • Step 4: Run a mini “experiment” and record expected vs. actual outcomes.

  • Step 5: Present learnings to the group.

Module 6

Sustaining Continuous Improvement

  • Daily Kata routines anchored in START as a memory aid.

  • SMART check-ins during team meetings to review measurable progress.

  • Embedding Kata coaching into leadership development.

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