---
title: "Kaizen"
subject: "ICT Project Management"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:kaizen"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/kaizen
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Kaizen

ICT Project Management · Chapter 10: Project quality management

- Asked in: year not given
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/kaizen
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-10

## Question

What do you mean by KAIZEN?

## Short answer

A Japanese philosophy of continuous, incremental improvement involving everyone in the organisation. It uses the PDCA cycle and tools like 5S, quality circles, and suggestion systems. Small, gradual improvements are preferred over occasional large changes.

## Answer

**Kaizen** is a Japanese word meaning "change for the better" (kai = change, zen = good), and refers to the philosophy of **continuous, incremental improvement** involving everyone in the organisation, from top management to workers. Masaaki Imai popularised it in the West. It is a key part of TQM and lean production.

#### Principles
- Small, continuous improvements are better than occasional large changes.
- Everyone participates, including workers who know the process best.
- Focus on processes, not on blaming people.
- Use data and standardise improvements.
- Respect for people and teamwork.
- Eliminate waste (muda).

#### Kaizen cycle (PDCA)
```text
Plan -> Do -> Check -> Act
  ^                     |
  +---------------------+
```
1. **Plan**: find a problem, analyse cause, set a goal.
2. **Do**: try the improvement on a small scale.
3. **Check**: measure the result.
4. **Act**: adopt as standard or revise, then repeat.

#### Tools
5S (sort, set in order, shine, standardise, sustain), suggestion systems, quality circles, 5 Whys, visual management, standard work.

#### Kaizen versus innovation
| Kaizen | Innovation |
|---|---|
| Small, gradual | Large, radical |
| Continuous | Occasional |
| Everyone | A few specialists |
| Low cost | High investment |

#### In IT projects
- Sprint retrospectives in agile are kaizen events.
- Regular review of code, automating repeated tests, lessons learned after each phase.

#### Benefits
Improved quality, lower cost, better morale, flexibility and less waste.

**Example:** A support team notices 20% of tickets are about password resets. They add a self-service reset page, a small improvement that cuts workload and response time.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What does Kaizen mean?
   A. One-time radical change by specialists
   B. Continuous, incremental improvement involving everyone
   C. Inventory reduction only
   D. Zero-defect inspection
   Answer: B. Kaizen means 'change for the better', via small continuous improvements by all. (Key point: Meaning)

2. How does Kaizen differ from innovation?
   A. Kaizen is large and costly
   B. Kaizen is done by a few specialists
   C. Kaizen is small, gradual and low cost; innovation is large and radical
   D. Kaizen is occasional only
   Answer: C. Kaizen is small, continuous, everyone-involved; innovation is radical and needs high investment. (Key point: Kaizen vs innovation)

3. What is the correct order of the Kaizen (PDCA) cycle?
   A. Plan, Do, Check, Act
   B. Plan, Check, Do, Act
   C. Do, Plan, Act, Check
   D. Act, Plan, Do, Check
   Answer: A. Plan the improvement, Do it small scale, Check the result, Act by standardising or revising. (Key point: PDCA)