The reality on the ground can damage reputation

Are we like goslings or baby geese that follow a mother goose wherever it goes? It appears that way, at least in my case.

- REY ELBO

Looking back in 1994, when I completed my scholarship on Japanese management in Tokyo, my eyes and ears would automatically open up to almost anything about Japan, including those that pertain to kaizen or the branded Toyota Production System.

What's good for the geese is also good for humans. In psychology, we call this phenomenon "imprinting." Both human and animal babies instinctively follow the dictates of the first living thing near them, usually their mother, who provides them with food, shelter and a safe environment while teaching them basic survival tricks.

Imagine my euphoria whenever I'm coached by the famous kaizen guru Masaaki Imai (1930-2023) and my good friend Kenji Kitamura, who spent 40 years in Toyota. Like a gosling, I would follow the lead of Imai and Kitamura, who taught me how to interpret the best practices of world-class organizations.

Gemba Walk

Three months ago, I visited a major factory in Laguna to learn from its best practices, touted as a paragon for world-class operational excellence. I was invited by its factory executive who told me he's a follower of my irreverent "Elbonomics" postings on social media. He asked if I could do a one-hour Gemba Walk for free.

They've already exhausted all means to be a world-class organization and they want an outsider to discover what they're missing. I accepted the offer. It was a win-win situation. I wanted to learn from them as well.

The problem is that I'm only limited to doing it for one hour without my mobile phone.