Dive into A3 Thinking
An introduction to A3 method; a powerful improvement and problem-solving thinking approach that:
- Solves problems effectively
- Keeps everyone on-board so they stay solved
- Develops problem-solvers
yet is operated on a single piece of paper.
The method originated in write-ups of Toyota’s obsessive problem-solving. It is related to Toyota Kata evangelised by Håkan Forss, and is applicable to a wider range of problems.
Lean Agile Scotland 2013
Braindump #lascot13 #a3 (Moved inside for coffee) pic.twitter.com/7qfpgdSS4f
— Martin Burns (@MartinBurnsSCO) August 26, 2013
Toyota have a Problem Solving Culture. No. That's wrong. Toyota has a Obsessive Problem Solving Culture ~ @martinburnsuk #lascot13
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) September 19, 2013
A3 tuneup w @agilesensei's carddeck – tactile is sexy – & @martinburnsuk showing path using A3 to create problem solving culture. #lascot13
— (((Marc Burgauer))) (@somesheep) September 19, 2013
ACE! Conference 2014
Now my awesome colleague @MartinBurnsSV on stage taking about A3 problem solving #aceconf @avegagroup pic.twitter.com/lIO3l5iYWS
— Håkan Forss (@hakanforss) June 16, 2014
#aceconf I really appreciate that @MartinBurnsSV uses PDSA, even Bill himself went with that in the end.
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) June 16, 2014
#aceconf rather sneaky (smart) anchoring of kata language. A3 as a gateway drug for Toyota Kata by @MartinBurnsSV
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) June 16, 2014
A3, Impact Maps, pictures, externalize your thinking so that you can talk about it with others. #aceconf
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) June 16, 2014
Obsessive compulsive problem solving seems a good idea as long as you also include problem resolution, dissolution and absolution. #aceconf
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) June 16, 2014
"British innovation culture is all about people in sheds who tinker with things." @MartinBurnsSV #aceconf
— Liz Keogh (@lunivore) June 16, 2014
Coach coaches coaching coaching coaches. It's coaches all the way down. #aceconf #a3thinking
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) June 16, 2014
I also received a very nice email from Mike Rother via Håkan wondering if I’d thought about the links between A3 & Kata 🙂

A3 talk sketchnote by Michael Geiß
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Dive into A3 Thinking by Martin Burns is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.