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Go to the Gemba

“Go to the Gemba” is a short 45-minute practice from Zayenha Practice in the Administrative domain. Don't analyze a problem from your desk. Go where it happens and observe 30 minutes before suggesting a fix. You can read its goal and first step for free; the full practice with every step and the interactive part comes with Plus.

Don't analyze a problem from your desk. Go where it happens and observe 30 minutes before suggesting a fix.

45 min Intermediate

Goal

Replace assumptions with direct observation; the fix isn't built on "what people say" but on what actually happens.

Steps

1

Pick a process with a problem (queue, delay, recurring error).

6 more steps locked

Expected Outcome

Immediate

You uncover 2-3 details nobody mentioned in meetings (a secret manual step, a hidden queue).

Evidence base

School: Toyota Production System / Lean

Founders: Taiichi Ohno · Fujio Cho (1980)

"Genchi Genbutsu" (go and see) is a Toyota Way pillar; Taiichi Ohno: "Papers lie; the floor doesn't."

Frequently asked questions

How long does "Go to the Gemba" take?

This exercise takes about 45 minutes, practiced solo in a Behavioral format.

When will I notice the effect of "Go to the Gemba"?

You uncover 2-3 details nobody mentioned in meetings (a secret manual step, a hidden queue). In the short term: Your solutions become more accurate; field teams adopt them more easily because they match reality.

Is "Go to the Gemba" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on Toyota Production System / Lean (Taiichi Ohno, Fujio Cho (1980)). "Genchi Genbutsu" (go and see) is a Toyota Way pillar; Taiichi Ohno: "Papers lie; the floor doesn't."

Is "Go to the Gemba" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the platform.

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