sar/.claude/skills/wds-8-product-evolution/data/kaizen-iteration-guide.md

Step 08: Iterate (Kaizen Never Stops)

Your Task

Use learnings from this cycle to identify and start the next improvement.

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Before You Start

Ensure you have:

• ✅ Completed step 07 (impact measured)
• ✅ Impact report created
• ✅ Learnings documented
• ✅ Results shared with team

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The Kaizen Philosophy

改善 (Kaizen) = Continuous Improvement

Ship → Monitor → Learn → Improve → Ship → Monitor → Learn...
                            ↑
                       You are here!

This cycle never stops!

See: data/kaizen-principles.md for Kaizen vs Kaikaku and core principles

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Review Your Learnings

From Impact Report

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for Learnings Documentation template

Key questions:

• What worked?
• What didn't work?
• What patterns are emerging?
• What hypotheses were validated/rejected?
• What new questions arose?

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Identify Next Opportunity

Three sources for next improvement:

1. Iterate on Current Update

If the update was partially successful - refine it.

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for "Iterate on Current Update" template

2. Apply Pattern to Similar Feature

If the update was successful - apply the pattern elsewhere.

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for "Apply Pattern" template

3. Address New Problem

From monitoring and feedback - tackle new issues.

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for "New Problem" template

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Prioritize Next Cycle

Use Kaizen prioritization:

Priority = Impact × Effort × Learning

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for Kaizen Prioritization template

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Start Next Cycle

Return to Step 01 with your next opportunity:

[M] Return to Activity Menu — start next cycle with [A] Analyze Product

See: data/monitoring-templates.md for Kaizen Cycle Log template

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Completion

Phase 8 is complete when:

• ✅ Improvement identified
• ✅ Context gathered
• ✅ Update designed
• ✅ Delivery created
• ✅ Handed off to BMad
• ✅ Implementation validated
• ✅ Impact measured
• ✅ Next cycle started

But Phase 8 never truly ends - Kaizen is continuous!

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Next Steps

You have two paths:

Path A: Continue Kaizen Cycle

[M] Return to Activity Menu — start next cycle with [A] Analyze Product
    Start next improvement cycle

Path B: New Product Feature

[N] Return to Phase 4-5 (UX Design & Design System)
    Design new complete user flow
    Then Phase 4 [H] Handover (Design Deliveries)

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When to Pause Kaizen

Kaizen never stops, but you might pause for:

• Major strategic shift (new product direction, pivot)
• Team capacity (overwhelmed, need to stabilize)
• Measurement period (waiting for data)

But always return to Kaizen!

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Success Metrics

✅ Learnings reviewed ✅ Next opportunity identified ✅ Prioritization complete ✅ Next cycle started ✅ Cycle log updated

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Failure Modes

❌ Not reviewing learnings ❌ Not identifying next opportunity ❌ Stopping after one cycle ❌ Not prioritizing effectively ❌ Scope creep (turning Kaizen into Kaikaku)

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Remember: Great products aren't built in one big redesign. They're built through continuous, disciplined improvement. One cycle at a time. Forever. 改善