Kaizen

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkaɪˌzən/

Definitions

1. A Japanese concept advocating for the gradual enhancement of processes, productivity, and personal growth through constant evaluation and improvement
2. This practice encourages consistent small changes to boost overall effectiveness, quality, and workplace culture for individuals and teams
3. A strategy originating in Japan that focuses on ongoing, incremental enhancements in operations and personal development

Etymology: The Japanese word "kaizen" is built from two Chinese characters that together mean "change" and "good," so its literal sense is something like "change for the better." The compound reached Japanese from Chinese, where the same two characters were already combined centuries ago, and it has long carried the plain meaning of improvement or reform before it became a business term. Its move into English is a dated, traceable event. In 1959, Boyé Lafayette De Mente used the word in his book "Japanese Etiquette and Ethics in Business," introducing it to English readers as a description of Japanese workplace practice. The idea it names, steady incremental refinement rather than occasional sweeping change, is what gave the word its modern use in management and manufacturing.

Synonyms: improvement, change for the better