Kaizen vs. Suggestion Box: Effective Employee Engagement Strategies with Mark Graban [Video]

The Lean Enterprise Institute recorded this short video while we were at the recent Northeast Shingo Prize conference. Thanks to them for doing this and sharing it!

In this video, I talk about one of the concepts in my book  Healthcare Kaizen: Engaging Front-Line Staff in Sustainable Continuous Improvements – namely, a few of the ways a Kaizen approach to improvement is different from a suggestion box.

In this video, Chet Marchwinski interviews me about the differences between a traditional suggestion box system and a Kaizen system. I explain that in a suggestion box system, employees submit ideas that are then reviewed by a manager or committee, often resulting in many ideas sitting idle and a slow, disengaging process. In contrast, a Kaizen system focuses on collaboration between managers and employees to implement as many ideas as possible. Managers coach employees, helping them refine and adjust suggestions to make them practical and affordable, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and active employee involvement.

I also highlight the importance of coaching for frontline supervisors and managers within the Kaizen system. Coaches, whether higher-level leaders or external experts, observe manager-employee interactions and provide feedback on behaviors and body language that might inadvertently discourage ideas. This coaching helps managers improve their interactions, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the Kaizen process. Understanding these differences is crucial for organizations aiming to create a culture of continuous improvement and high employee engagement, as the Kaizen approach leads to more practical and implemented ideas, driving ongoing improvements and innovation.

Why This Matters

Understanding the differences between a suggestion box system and a Kaizen system is crucial for organizations aiming to foster a culture of continuous improvement and high employee engagement. The Kaizen approach encourages active participation from employees and supports managers in effectively collaborating with their teams. This leads to more practical and implemented ideas, driving ongoing improvements and innovation within the organization.

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