kaizen-iteration-guide.md 3.5 KB

Step 08: Iterate (Kaizen Never Stops)

Your Task

Use learnings from this cycle to identify and start the next improvement.


Before You Start

Ensure you have:

  • ✅ Completed step 07 (impact measured)
  • ✅ Impact report created
  • ✅ Learnings documented
  • ✅ Results shared with team

The Kaizen Philosophy

改善 (Kaizen) = Continuous Improvement

Ship → Monitor → Learn → Improve → Ship → Monitor → Learn...
                            ↑
                       You are here!

This cycle never stops!

See: data/kaizen-principles.md for Kaizen vs Kaikaku and core principles


Review Your Learnings

From Impact Report

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for Learnings Documentation template

Key questions:

  • What worked?
  • What didn't work?
  • What patterns are emerging?
  • What hypotheses were validated/rejected?
  • What new questions arose?

Identify Next Opportunity

Three sources for next improvement:

1. Iterate on Current Update

If the update was partially successful - refine it.

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for "Iterate on Current Update" template

2. Apply Pattern to Similar Feature

If the update was successful - apply the pattern elsewhere.

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for "Apply Pattern" template

3. Address New Problem

From monitoring and feedback - tackle new issues.

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for "New Problem" template


Prioritize Next Cycle

Use Kaizen prioritization:

Priority = Impact × Effort × Learning

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for Kaizen Prioritization template


Start Next Cycle

Return to Step 01 with your next opportunity:

[M] Return to Activity Menu — start next cycle with [A] Analyze Product

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for Kaizen Cycle Log template


Completion

Phase 8 is complete when:

  • ✅ Improvement identified
  • ✅ Context gathered
  • ✅ Update designed
  • ✅ Delivery created
  • ✅ Handed off to BMad
  • ✅ Implementation validated
  • ✅ Impact measured
  • ✅ Next cycle started

But Phase 8 never truly ends - Kaizen is continuous!


Next Steps

You have two paths:

Path A: Continue Kaizen Cycle

[M] Return to Activity Menu — start next cycle with [A] Analyze Product
    Start next improvement cycle

Path B: New Product Feature

[N] Return to Phase 4-5 (UX Design & Design System)
    Design new complete user flow
    Then Phase 4 [H] Handover (Design Deliveries)

When to Pause Kaizen

Kaizen never stops, but you might pause for:

  • Major strategic shift (new product direction, pivot)
  • Team capacity (overwhelmed, need to stabilize)
  • Measurement period (waiting for data)

But always return to Kaizen!


Success Metrics

✅ Learnings reviewed ✅ Next opportunity identified ✅ Prioritization complete ✅ Next cycle started ✅ Cycle log updated


Failure Modes

❌ Not reviewing learnings ❌ Not identifying next opportunity ❌ Stopping after one cycle ❌ Not prioritizing effectively ❌ Scope creep (turning Kaizen into Kaikaku)


Remember: Great products aren't built in one big redesign. They're built through continuous, disciplined improvement. One cycle at a time. Forever. 改善