The Agile Kata: A New Approach to Change and Continuous Improvement

This article was inspired by the recent podcast episode from Comparative Agility, where we hosted Joe Krebs. To listen to the full conversation, tune in here.

For decades, organizations have sought better ways to navigate complexity and adapt to change. Agile frameworks like Scrum and Kanban have transformed the way teams work, yet the challenge of scaling agility beyond individual teams remains. Agile Kata offers a fresh perspective on how we approach transformation and continuous improvement.

A Journey from Agile Frameworks to Agile Kata

The evolution of agility over the past two decades has been a journey of discovery. Early on, the focus was on individual teams adopting Agile frameworks, introducing new processes, and changing behaviors. These changes brought initial success — teams delivered more effectively, customers were happier, and organizations saw progress. However, as businesses grew and complexity increased, traditional approaches to agility started to show limitations. Scaling agility beyond IT and into the broader business world required a different way of thinking.

Agile transformations often followed a rigid, top-down approach — introducing new frameworks with the expectation that they would simply “work.” However, as many organizations discovered, true transformation requires more than just adopting a methodology; it demands a fundamental shift in how we approach change itself. This realization led to a search for a more adaptive, learning-driven model — one that could guide organizations through uncertainty with scientific thinking and continuous learning.

What is Kata?

The term “Kata” originates from martial arts, referring to structured practice routines that build skill through repetition. In the business world, the concept was popularized by the Lean community, particularly through Mike Rother’s book Toyota Kata. At its core, Kata is about creating routines that help individuals and organizations develop new ways of thinking and acting.

Unlike rigid frameworks, Kata is not a set of predefined rules but rather a structured approach to learning and adaptation. The Agile Kata applies this thinking to Agile transformations, offering a simple yet powerful way to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement.

Breaking Habits and Developing Scientific Thinking

Humans are creatures of habit. We rely on routines to navigate daily life efficiently, reducing cognitive load. However, in business, relying on instinct and past experiences can often lead to suboptimal decisions.

The Agile Kata provides a structured way to break ingrained habits and introduce a more deliberate, scientific approach to problem-solving.

Scientific thinking encourages teams to challenge assumptions, experiment, and learn from outcomes rather than making decisions based purely on gut instinct. In this way, the Agile Kata fosters an environment of curiosity and innovation, allowing organizations to adapt to change more effectively.

The Four Steps of Agile Kata

At the heart of the Agile Kata are four key steps that guide teams through a structured learning process:

Define a Challenge — Every journey begins with a destination. The first step in the Agile Kata process is to establish a clear, meaningful challenge. Unlike typical goal-setting, this challenge should push teams beyond their comfort zones, encouraging them to stretch their capabilities.

Understand the Current Condition — Before embarking on any change, it’s essential to assess where you are today. Many organizations rush to implement solutions without fully understanding their current reality. The Agile Kata emphasizes taking stock of the present state, enabling teams to make informed decisions based on actual conditions rather than assumptions.

Establish a Target Condition — Instead of leaping to an end-state, the Agile Kata encourages incremental progress by setting a realistic, short-term target condition. This is not a traditional roadmap but rather a specific future state that serves as a stepping stone toward the larger challenge.

Experiment Toward the Target Condition — The final step is about taking action. Teams run small, focused experiments to move from the current condition to the target condition, learning and adapting as they go. Each experiment provides insights that help refine the approach and inform the next steps in the journey.

Why Agile Kata Matters

Unlike traditional Agile frameworks, which often prescribe a set of practices to follow, the Agile Kata serves as a guide for organizations to navigate their unique transformation journey. It’s not about implementing a one-size-fits-all solution but rather about developing the capability to change effectively.

One of the most powerful aspects of the Agile Kata is its adaptability. Whether tackling digital transformation, integrating AI, or rethinking product strategy, the Agile Kata provides a repeatable, scalable way to approach change. It shifts the focus from following rigid methodologies to developing an organizational muscle for continuous learning and improvement.

The Agile Kata Assessment on Comparative Agility

This assessment allows teams and organizations to evaluate their current state in five key areas: scientific thinking, continuous improvement, practices, agile mindset, and use cases.

The assessment helps identify a starting point for applying Agile Kata and encourages continuous improvement over time. By regularly reassessing — whether every three or six months — teams can track their progress and see if they are making meaningful improvements. The statements in the assessment are intentionally neutral, without mentioning Agile Kata directly, ensuring an objective evaluation. However, the recommendations provided are designed to guide organizations on their Agile Kata journey, making it a valuable tool for both individual knowledge assessment and team capability building.

A New Starting Point for Agility

Many organizations see Agile as a destination — a final state where they have “achieved” agility. The Agile Kata challenges this notion. It is not about reaching an endpoint but about continuously refining and improving. By embedding these routines into daily work, teams and leaders can develop the skills necessary to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an ever-changing world.

In the end, Agile isn’t just about frameworks; it’s about mindset and behavior. The Agile Kata provides a powerful toolset for fostering scientific thinking, breaking bad habits, and creating an environment where agility is not just a process but a way of life.