If your organization is looking to adopt a Kaizen mindset and identify opportunities for “good change,” large and small, you may be considering a Kaizen software solution designed to support your efforts. For many organizations, the introduction of this kind of technology makes the difference between successful continuous improvement efforts over the long term and a program that quickly loses momentum and fails to take root in the culture. There are a wide range of options for Kaizen management, including everything from spreadsheet templates to extremely complex enterprise Six Sigma technology suites.

However, finding the right solution for your particular organization doesn’t need to be a chore. We’ve identified 5 essential functions that you should look for in every solution you consider.

Comprehensive Opportunity Capture

A central idea of the Kaizen philosophy is that continuous improvement is the responsibility of every person on the organization. Great ideas for positive change can come from anyone, and everyone can be a part of the response to an opportunity for improvement. This means that your Kaizen software should support both top-down improvement initiatives and ideas that are generated on the front lines. The solution should be easy to use, accessible from anywhere, and available on the devices your employees use most.

Active Workflow

Once an opportunity for improvement is identified and documented, it needs to be reviewed, approved, and acted upon. The best Kaizen software solutions support this process to ensure that forward progress is maintained. The solution should include alerts and notifications to keep employees apprised of any necessary tasks and managers should have an easy way to recognize roadblocks or stalled momentum.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

The most impactful improvements often require cross-functional collaboration. Your Kaizen software solution should support this by streamlining communication around improvements across teams and departments.

Improvement Measurement

Demonstrating the benefits of your Kaizen efforts is essential for preserving executive support and employee engagement. The most effective technologies help do exactly this by providing tools to analyze the impact of each improvement with respect to ROI, customer satisfaction, reduced time to market, and other key success factors.

Improvement Broadcasting

Building a Kaizen culture requires continuous reinforcement of the principle as well as recognition of the employees who are contributing to positive change. This can be accomplished with tools that include built-in improvement broadcasting and employee recognition features. Organizations find that one success builds on another and there is a snowball effect to improvement when communication is clear and frequent.

Kaizen software does not need to be complicated, but it does need to have enough functionality to adequately support your team as they work to identify and resolve opportunities for improvement. Choosing a solution with these core features will position your organization for success through good change.