Continuous Improvement is evolutionary; Transformation is revolutionary.
Irina Rokosz
Think of it like this:
- Continuous Improvement = update
- Transformation = upgrade
Transformation is what sets you up. Continuous Improvement is what happens afterwards.
Transformation can change everything: the system you use, its purpose (how it operates), and its goals (where it takes you). But that’s not a must: Transformation can just as well only upgrade the vehicle that gets you to your goals, without necessarily changing them.
Continuous Improvement, on the other hand, only tweaks the system you already use. That’s the practice of constantly inspecting and adapting, which must be part of your daily operations. Transformation, however, shouldn’t be part of daily operations: it’s a sporadic activity you want to do as rarely as possible, due to its disruptive nature.
Which one do you think you need and why?