In 30 seconds
- Gemba means "the real place" in Japanese.
- Leaders observe real work and ask open questions.
- It's about understanding the process, not inspecting people.
The idea
Lean thinking, shaped at Toyota by leaders such as Taiichi Ohno, holds that problems are best understood where they happen. A gemba walk takes managers to the work itself rather than relying on dashboards and summaries.
In a software team
- Sit with a team during a stand-up or a pairing session
- Follow one work item from request to release
- Watch a deployment or an incident review
Good questions
- What slows you down most?
- Where do you wait for others?
- What would you change if you could?
Listen more than you talk, and follow up on what you hear.
Myth vs reality
Myth · A gemba walk is an inspection.
Reality · It's for learning about the process, not judging people.
Myth · Leaders should fix problems on the spot.
Reality · Usually they should help the team fix them.
Myth · Remote teams can't do gemba.
Reality · Joining virtual sessions and tracing work in tools works too.
FAQ
How often should leaders walk the gemba?
Regularly, such as weekly, so it becomes normal.
How long is a walk?
Often 30 to 60 minutes.
What should happen afterwards?
Share what you learned and act on at least one finding.