Makoto Consulting Articles

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Unleashing Business Potential with Japan Study Tours

The most pivotal element in Lean business management often comes as a query, and my answer remains constant – the team culture holds the utmost significance. Just like many others, you may have witnessed instances where investments are made into advanced tools, techniques, and innovative technology, but the anticipated outcomes don’t materialise. This is usually…

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Are you a business leader who is an exception to the rule?

As a business leader, one of your key responsibilities is to create a productive culture within your organisation. However, this is often easier said than done. In a recent conversation with Makoto, Chris Goddard discussed the challenges of addressing negative organisational culture and why leaders should invest in making changes.   Creating a positive culture…

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Key insights from our latest JLE study tour participants

Through the Makoto lens, we recently had the opportunity to take another group of enthusiastic business leaders on a Lean Experience Study Tour in Japan. This immersive journey into the heart of Lean and Kaizen methodologies is always an eye-opening experience for participants.   Let’s delve into some of the key changes our latest group…

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Effective delegation: a step-by-step guide

In today’s fast-paced business environment, effective delegation is an essential skill for leaders aiming to maximise their team’s potential and achieve organisational success.   Delegation not only enables leaders to distribute tasks more efficiently but also empowers team members to develop their skills and contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s goals. Research conducted by the Harvard…

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Unwavering commitment and patience in leadership

Leadership is a complex and multifaceted role that requires a deep understanding of three key success factors.   Key success factors in leadership include hands-on role modelling, unwavering commitment, and long-term follow-up for continuous improvement. In this article, we will discuss these essential elements and their significance in creating a sustainable and results-driven work environment.…

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Navigating problem-solving pitfalls

Effective problem-solving is crucial for teams to address challenges and drive continuous improvement within their organisations. However, the problem-solving process can be fraught with potential pitfalls that may hinder progress and lead to suboptimal outcomes.   In this blog post, we’ll explore common traps that teams encounter during problem-solving and discuss techniques to avoid them,…

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Harnessing the power of PDCA

The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, also known as the Deming cycle or Shewhart cycle, is a widely-used iterative process for continuous improvement and problem-solving.   In our previous blog posts, we’ve explored various problem-solving techniques such as the Five Whys, brainstorming, and fishbone diagrams. In this post, we’ll dive deeper into the PDCA cycle, examining how…

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Unleashing creativity: exploring brainstorming and fishbone diagrams for effective problem solving

In our ongoing quest to help teams optimise their problem-solving capabilities, we’ve previously discussed the Five Whys technique as a powerful method to uncover the root cause of a problem. Let’s dive into two more creative problem-solving tools: brainstorming and fishbone diagrams.   Unique advantages While these techniques share some similarities, they also offer unique…

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Unleashing the power of the Five Whys technique for masterful problem-solving

In a world where organisations are constantly striving for growth and success, the ability to effectively solve problems is a vital skill.   Incorporating problem-solving techniques When incorporating problem-solving techniques into a team culture of continuous improvement, the Five Whys is a powerful method that helps teams identify the root cause of a problem. In…

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Empowering leadership: incorporating problem solving

Imagine a scenario where a team is struggling to meet their project deadlines due to recurring bottlenecks in their workflow. Instead of pointing fingers or relying on temporary fixes, they decide to address the root cause of the issue using problem-solving techniques. This approach not only resolves their immediate challenge but also empowers team members…

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