Go-and-Check

Go-and-Check makes management’s intention physically present where the work is. The manager appears at the problem, shares it rather than assigning blame, and decides on the spot where needed. The Japanese genchi genbutsu and Hewlett-Packard’s management by walking around describe the same discipline.

What the method adds is the schedule. A manager who walks the floor when there is time will not reliably be there; a manager whose calendar shows the walk at a fixed hour will be. The question asked matters as much: “what do you need?” produces a different organization from “why is this late?”