Why Kaizen is thriving in the new economy

The corporate environment is changing, and many of the innovations that have taken hold in recent years – social media, mobile tech, cloud computing and crowdfunding, to name a few – have had little or no time to grow in a robust economy.

Now that the economy is finally showing signs of a significant rebound, it will be interesting to observe how these trends unfold and, indeed, expand. Another interesting trend that has been around for decade but only recently gained widespread popularity is the Japanese concept of “Kaizen,” or continuous improvement.

“Kaizen focuses all corporate functions on the 'process' of value creation (design, engineering, finance, and marketing) rather than its 'product' (sales growth),” explains Chitra Sundaram for Forbes magazine.

Organizations have taken to Kaizen in recent years in large part because of the recession. Procurement difficulties, inflation, talent shortages and weak demand forced many companies to adopt more efficient and value-oriented processes. The result was improved bottom-line performance and growth, even in the down market. And it also plays an important role in employee engagement and personal branding.

“Focus on 'process' is critical to having a saleable 'product' – yourself,” Sundaram adds. “But go further. Have confidence in your 'product.' Don't be shy about speaking up on its behalf.”