Kaizen is a Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement through small, incremental steps. It means "change for good" and involves improving personal efficiency, work practices, quality and productivity on an ongoing basis. The concept advocates for making great change through small, steady steps rather than large jumps. This allows one to effectively rewire their brain and form new connections to embrace change more readily. Examples show how both the U.S. government and Japanese businesses successfully applied Kaizen principles during rebuilding after World War II through incremental improvements each day.

1. Kaizen is the Way
The translation of ‘Kaizen’ from Japanese is
‘improvement’. However, the literal translation is: KAI =
Change and ZEN = Good. A more comprehensive
meaning of the word is: A business philosophy of
continuous improvement of personal efficiency, work
practices, quality and productivity.
One of the significant features of Kaizen is that great
change is made through small steps. This concept has
been explained in a simple and engaging way by
Dr. Robert Maurer in ‘One small step can change your life’.
Dr. Maurer takes one along through topics like – Ask small
questions, Think small thoughts, Take small actions. He
has seamlessly included a number of real life situations
where people have achieved their goals by following
Kaizen…be it starting an exercise program, quitting
smoking or writing a novel.
He says the human brain is programmed to resist change.
However, by taking small steps, one effectively rewires
the nervous system, creates new connections between
neurons. The brain enthusiastically takes over the process
of change and progress towards your goal is rapid. Dr
Maurer explains this with the case of Julie a person who is
over weight, unfit, is barely holding on to her job and is
afflicted by high stress and depression. Through small
steps Julie is slowly guided to a healthier life, building up
the exercise habit.
Dr.Maurer tells us how the Kaizen philosophy has been
followed by the US Government, Japanese business
leaders and many other eminent people with success. For
example, the Second World War created a requirement of
arms, weapons and supplies. The manufacturers had to

2. step up the quality and quantity of equipments. Also, the
movement of qualified factory supervisors to the armed
forces caused a shortage of staff. Faced with the
challenge of time and personnel constraints the U.S.
government had to create management courses called
‘Training within Industries’ and offer them to corporations
in America. One of them exhorted managers towards
‘Continuous improvement’ instead of encouraging radical,
more innovative change to produce the required results.
The philosophy of small steps towards improvement was
introduced to Japan after the war. Post the Second World
War, their industrial base destroyed the Japanese
business leaders became quite receptive to Kaizen and
rebuilt their industries, increased productivity to high
levels.
Dr. Maurer has quoted John Wooden the legendary
American Basketball player and coach who said, “When
you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur.”