The Gemba Walk: Going to the Real Place

The Gemba Walk: Going to the Real Place


Management Stand-Up As A Huddle With Staff

The gemba walk is a form of management by Walking Around, in which management meets with front line staff to look for opportunities to practice what, in Japan, is called gemba kaizen, or “practical improvement”. In quality management, gumbo means going where the problem occurs, to understand its full impact, and gather information and ideas from those closest to it.

In nursing homes, that means going to the staff closest to the residents. This short clip shares how the administrator, Director of Nursing, and key members of the management team in an Indianapolis nursing home meet daily with CNAs and nurses on each unit to discuss residents’ issues, and find out how the management team can support staff to meet residents’ needs.