This document discusses measuring the effectiveness of PDCA cycles and coaching cycles by tracking the expansion of "threshold of knowledge." It suggests that progress is made when threshold of knowledge moves in the target condition's direction. The document proposes research questions around finding the current threshold, whether hypotheses are confirmed, and how often coaching switches to mentoring. It includes sample records for tracking PDCA cycles, coaching cycles, and measurements like expectations confirmed and use of coaching. The goal is to develop measurable ways to track the impact of improvement cycles and coaching.

1. How to make progress of Coaching
Cycles and PDCA cycles measurable?
Emiel van Est
27 november 2011

2. Some thoughts
• Threshold of Knowledge seems to become a core
concept of TK
– See Bill Costantino’s TK unified field theory Presentation
• We only make progress when we expand Threshold of
Knowledge in the direction of a target condition
• It would be very helpful for coaches and advance
groups to be able to measure the effectiveness of
PDCA Cycles and Coaching Cycles.
• It seems important to distinct coaching from
mentoring.

3. Threshold of Knowledge seems to
become a core concept of TK
http://www.slideshare.net/BillCW3/toyota-kata-unified-field-theory

4. Coaching vs Mentoring
Ref: Karen Martin
• In improvement circles, the terms coach and mentor have become
synonymous, but they represent two very distinct roles.
• A coach draws on the wisdom of the coachee by asking Socratic
questions, open-ended questions that are designed to cause the
student to think.
– The student already possesses the knowledge and skills they need to
be successful and are having difficulty drawing upon it.
• A mentor puts on a more traditional teacher's hat.
– The student doesn't possess the knowledge and skills that he or she
needs to be successful.
– The mentor provides information and teaches via a learn-apply
method. A mentor provides information—tells— more than asks.
– As the mentee applies the knowledge and skills, it's acceptable for the
teacher to be quite directive about the adjustments the mentee
should try.

5. Research Questions
• How do we find the current Threshold of Knowledge?
– At what question in the coaching cycle?
– Who did find it? The coach or the learner?
• Are hypothesis confirmed or rejected?
– If 100% confirmed you probably are not stretching
Threshold of Knowledge
– If 0% confirmed what does that mean?
• Steps to big?
• To many directions?
• …?
– What would be a good mix?
– What would be a good trend?

6. Research Questions
• Did the coach have to switch from coaching mode to
mentor mode?
– Where in the coaching cycle?
– Why?
• How often has the coach to switch to mentor mode?
– Always? That can not be good.
– Never? That can not be good.
– What would be a healthy mix?
– What would be a healthy trend?
• How many PDCA cycles does the learner on his own
(without coaching)?
– What would be a healthy mix?
– What would be a healthy trend?

7. Threshold of Knowledge & Coaching Kata
Coaching focus:
Where is current Threshold of
Knowledge on the way toward
the Target Condition?
Are we acting on the current
Threshold of Knowledge?

8. Back of Card
Reflect on the Last Step Taken
A) What was your Threshold of Knowledge
B) What was your last step?
C) What did you expect?
D) What actually happened?
E) What did you learn?
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9. PDCA Cycles Record
Date
Process Process Metric
Threshold of
Knowledge? Result
# (What next do you want to learn) Step What do you expect? Observe closely What we Learned?
1
As
Expe c te d?
Q ue stion
re ve a ling
TO K
With Coa c h?
2
As
Expe c te d?
Q ue stion
re ve a ling
TO K
With Coa c h?
Experiment
3
As
Expe c te d?
Q ue stion
re ve a ling
TO K
With Coa c h?
4
As
Expe c te d?
Q ue stion
re ve a ling
TO K
With Coa c h?
5
As
Expe c te d?
Q ue stion
re ve a ling
TO K
With Coa c h?

10. Coaching Cycles Record
Date
Process Process Metric
Date Date & Switched to mentor
Start Time Cycle on How was threshold of knowledge mode? Why did you or didn't you switch to
# Stop Time PDCA form found? Where in coaching cycle? mentor mode?
1
2
3
4
5

11. PDCA Cycles Measurements
Date
Process Process Metric
Expectations confirmed
No No No No No
No No No No
No No No Yes Start at bottom or top
Yes No Yes Yes Yes and meet in the middle
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PDCA Form
1-nov 8-nov 15-nov 22-nov 29-nov 6-dec 13-dec 20-dec 27-dec
Date
With what question did we find current threshold of knowledge?
1 2 1 2 1 2A
2 2 2C 3 3 3C 3D means: we
3 2 2 3 2 3D flipped the card after
question 3 and
4 3 3D 2 3
found TOK at
5 4 1 3 2
PDCA Form
reflection question D
1-nov 8-nov 15-nov 22-nov 29-nov 6-dec 13-dec 20-dec 27-dec
Date
PDCA cycles with coaching
Yes No Yes No No
Yes Yes Yes No
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PDCA Form
1-nov 8-nov 15-nov 22-nov 29-nov 6-dec 13-dec 20-dec 27-dec
Date

12. Coaching Cycles Measurements
Date
Process Process Metric
Did the learner find the Threshold of Knowledge by themselves?
No Uncoached No Uncoached Uncoached Desired level?
No No No Uncoached
No No No No
Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PDCA Form
1-nov 8-nov 15-nov 22-nov 29-nov 6-dec 13-dec 20-dec 27-dec
Date
With what question did we find current threshold of knowledge?
1 2 Uncoached 2 Uncoached Uncoached
2 2 2C 3 Uncoached 3C
3 2 2 3 2 3D
4 3 3D 2 3
5 4 1 3 2
PDCA Form
1-nov 8-nov 15-nov 22-nov 29-nov 6-dec 13-dec 20-dec 27-dec
Date
Switched to mentor mode because learner moved outside Improvement Kata Corridor? Desired trend?
No Uncoached No Uncoached Uncoached
No No Yes Uncoached No
Yes Yes Yes No
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PDCA Form
1-nov 8-nov 15-nov 22-nov 29-nov 6-dec 13-dec 20-dec 27-dec
Date