Gemba Walks

Abstract

A Gemba Walk is a technique used to observe and understand how work is being performed. Gemba is taken from the Japanese word gembutsu, meaning “real thing” or “real place,” and a Gemba Walk has the following elements: observation (watching people perform work in-person); location (observing people at the actual location where work is performed); teaming (interacting with people performing the work). Gemba Walks provide an up-close, detailed view of behaviors in action and are a powerful tool for identifying process improvement opportunities and new ways to support the agile team. They are also useful methods for leaders to see how agile teams are demonstrating agile values.