Practicing Gemba

Gemba is a Japanese business management term that roughly translates to the place where things happen or the real place. In the context of Lean, Gemba is the place where value is created. Therefore, in the context of software development, Gemba is the place where developers create value.

Toyota implemented the practice of Gemba Walks, where managers literally walk the floors of their manufacturing facilities to view the processes and talk with the people performing the work. The in-person visits and discussions allowed the managers to see first-hand what actually takes place on the production floors. This time on the production floors allowed the managers to promote a collaborative environment, build trust with their employees, and make more informed decisions.

Though I didn't know the term at the time, this is exactly what I was doing when I started working in the printed circuit board shop. Intuitively, I understood I would not get a true understanding...