Kaizenetics

Kaizenetics

Kaizenetics is the system of applying the Japanese principle of Kaizen to the human condition for the improvement of the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of the individual. The term was first coined by a New York Chiropractor, Dr. Dennis Cummins in 2006.

Background
With regards to the Human condition, Kaizenetics shares the same beliefs that Massaki Imai espoused with regards to business. Imai, the author of Kaizen: the Key to Japan's Competitive Success, is quoted as saying that: “U.S. management has been too focused on results and not on the process of what achieves or delivers those results .” Kaizenetics considers that the individual is the “Manager” of his/her own condition. According to Dr. Cummins, it is an underlying principle Kaizenetics, that this type of thinking leads to too much emphasis on results, and not enough emphasis on the steps necessary to achieve and maintain those results in the long term.

One of the foundational principles of Kaizenetics is that the results of taking tiny continuous steps over time can be much greater than attempting to institute massive change all at once. The rationale for this belief has been described by M.J. Ryan in her book “This Year I Will..:
"Whenever we initiate change, even a positive one, we activate fear in our emotional brain. If the fear is big enough, the fight-or-flight response will go off and we’ll run from what we’re trying to do. The small steps in kaizen don’t set off fight or flight, but rather keep us in the thinking brain, where we have access to our creativity and playfulness."

Mono-tasking vs. Multi-tasking
Kaizenetics focuses on monotasking rather than multitasking. It would seem on the surface that Multitasking would be more productive but research seems to indicate that this approach may actually lead to as much as a 40% decrease in productive time .

Drawbacks
One of the primary drawbacks of the Kaizenetics system is that individuals may initially perceive that they will make slower progress, and thereby lose motivation.

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