Development and Application of Value Karuta to Understand Value in Lean Management: Initial Small-group Trial in Japan and the UK

This study proposes the Value Karuta (VK), an application of the traditional Japanese card game karuta. Its goal is to contribute to the understanding of value, which is the first principle of lean management. After stating the problems of lean management and the specifications of VK, this paper confirms the validity of the proposal by discussing two surveys. The first survey explored the utility factors of the cards themselves; it was conducted with a group of students and businesspeople in Japan. The second survey observed the actual situation in the game and was conducted in a group of academics at two UK universities. Both surveys used qualitative methods, such as observation and discussion, and quantitative questionnaires. The results confirm the role of VK as a fundamental tool addressing the need to understand customer value in lean management.