We have categorized 3 documents as Obeya. All documents are displayed on this page.

Translating from Japanese, 'Obeya' means 'big room' and it has become a significant management concept that companies, from lean manufacturers to digital innovators, are employing to enhance strategic alignment, communication, and decision-making. As Thomas Edison once said, “The value of an idea lies in the using of it.” And indeed, in today's complex and dynamic business landscape, the impact, utility, and transformative power of Obeya is grown remarkably.Learn more about Obeya.

Did you know?
The average daily rate of a McKinsey consultant is $6,625 (not including expenses). The average price of a Flevy document is $65.


Trusted by over 10,000+ Client Organizations
Since 2012, we have provided best practices to over 10,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes, from startups and small businesses to the Fortune 100, in over 130 countries.
AT&T GE Cisco Intel IBM Coke Dell Toyota HP Nike Samsung Microsoft Astrazeneca JP Morgan KPMG Walgreens Walmart 3M Kaiser Oracle SAP Google E&Y Volvo Bosch Merck Fedex Shell Amgen Eli Lilly Roche AIG Abbott Amazon PwC T-Mobile Broadcom Bayer Pearson Titleist ConEd Pfizer NTT Data Schwab




Read Customer Testimonials

  •  
    "As a consultant requiring up to date and professional material that will be of value and use to my clients, I find Flevy a very reliable resource.

    The variety and quality of material available through Flevy offers a very useful and commanding source for information. Using Flevy saves me time, enhances my expertise and ends up being a good decision."

    – Dennis Gershowitz, Principal at DG Associates
  •  
    "Flevy.com has proven to be an invaluable resource library to our Independent Management Consultancy, supporting and enabling us to better serve our enterprise clients.

    The value derived from our [FlevyPro] subscription in terms of the business it has helped to gain far exceeds the investment made, making a subscription a no-brainer for any growing consultancy – or in-house strategy team."

    – Dean Carlton, Chief Transformation Officer, Global Village Transformations Pty Ltd.
  •  
    "I have used Flevy services for a number of years and have never, ever been disappointed. As a matter of fact, David and his team continue, time after time, to impress me with their willingness to assist and in the real sense of the word. I have concluded in fact "

    – Roberto Pelliccia, Senior Executive in International Hospitality
  •  
    "As a young consulting firm, requests for input from clients vary and it's sometimes impossible to provide expert solutions across a broad spectrum of requirements. That was before I discovered Flevy.com.

    Through subscription to this invaluable site of a plethora of topics that are key and crucial to consulting, I "

    – Nishi Singh, Strategist and MD at NSP Consultants
  •  
    "Flevy is our 'go to' resource for management material, at an affordable cost. The Flevy library is comprehensive and the content deep, and typically provides a great foundation for us to further develop and tailor our own service offer."

    – Chris McCann, Founder at Resilient.World
  •  
    "I like your product. I'm frequently designing PowerPoint presentations for my company and your product has given me so many great ideas on the use of charts, layouts, tools, and frameworks. I really think the templates are a valuable asset to the job."

    – Roberto Fuentes Martinez, Senior Executive Director at Technology Transformation Advisory
  •  
    "My FlevyPro subscription provides me with the most popular frameworks and decks in demand in today’s market. They not only augment my existing consulting and coaching offerings and delivery, but also keep me abreast of the latest trends, inspire new products and service offerings for my practice, and educate me "

    – Bill Branson, Founder at Strategic Business Architects
  •  
    "I have used FlevyPro for several business applications. It is a great complement to working with expensive consultants. The quality and effectiveness of the tools are of the highest standards."

    – Moritz Bernhoerster, Global Sourcing Director at Fortune 500



Flevy Management Insights: Obeya

Translating from Japanese, 'Obeya' means 'big room' and it has become a significant management concept that companies, from lean manufacturers to digital innovators, are employing to enhance strategic alignment, communication, and decision-making. As Thomas Edison once said, “The value of an idea lies in the using of it.” And indeed, in today's complex and dynamic business landscape, the impact, utility, and transformative power of Obeya is grown remarkably.

In fact, according to recent research by McKinsey & Company, companies that integrate Obeya principles into their operations have experienced a 20% improvement in project timelines and a 25% increase in overall productivity.

Simply put, Obeya is a physical space or virtual room where management and teams gather to align strategies, make decisions, and monitor and understand important data. This allows for real-time learning and optimization, greatly facilitating decision-making processes. Obeya moves away from the traditional siloed approach to a more integrated, transparent, and collaborative management style.

For effective implementation, take a look at these Obeya best practices:

The Unique Advantages of Obeya

Integrating an Obeya approach into business management practices offers a host of benefits, many of which specifically address common challenges faced by businesses in today's fast-paced, digitally driven landscape.

  • Fosters Collaborative Decision Making: In an Obeya, information is transparent and shared openly, fostering a space where different viewpoints can be considered and multiple perspectives can be integrated into decision making.
  • Encourages Cross-Functional Collaboration: The Obeya process breaks down departmental silos and facilitates the open sharing of knowledge and information, leading to greater cross-functional collaboration and better overall strategic alignment.
  • Enhances Real-Time Learning: By having a single space where key information is collected, discussed, and analyzed, Obeya allows for swift reaction to new insights, enabling immediate adaptation and optimization.
  • Streamlines Communication: Within the Obeya, all stakeholders can proactively meet and communicate, reducing confusion, miscommunication, and enhancing the overall efficacy of the business process.

Explore related management topics: Decision Making

The Essential Principles behind Successful Obeya Implementation

While the concept may seem straightforward, implementing an effective Obeya requires following a few key principles.

  1. Leadership Involvement: Successful Obeya practices require the active participation of leaders across all levels. This commitment sends a strong message about the importance of Obeya to the entire organization.
  2. Consistent Review Rhythm: Regular review meetings within the Obeya space are essential to keep the process effective. This helps foster a routine of continuous improvement and learning.
  3. Visual Management: The use of wall charts, whiteboards, and screens to visualize progress is a key aspect of Obeya. This makes information easy to understand and contributes significantly to effective decision-making.
  4. Active Engagement: Looking at charts is not enough. Participants must actively engage, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and make decisions.

Obeya, an innovative management tool originating from Japan, is now increasingly leveraged by Fortune 500 companies worldwide. Its benefits are persuasive - better strategy alignment, improved collaboration, and enhanced decision-making capabilities. Understanding its principles and learning how to effectively leverage Obeya can truly be a game-changer in enhancing overall business performance.

Explore related management topics: Continuous Improvement Visual Management Leadership

Obeya FAQs

Here are our top-ranked questions that relate to Obeya.

What are the common pitfalls or challenges organizations face when implementing Obeya, and how can they be overcome?
Implementing Obeya faces challenges like lack of understanding and commitment, physical and technological barriers, and integration with existing processes, which can be overcome by leadership buy-in, leveraging digital tools for virtual collaboration, and aligning with organizational goals and workflows. [Read full explanation]
How does Obeya adapt to remote or hybrid work environments, ensuring inclusivity and effectiveness?
Adapting Obeya for remote and hybrid work involves leveraging digital tools for collaboration, maintaining inclusivity through structured virtual meetings, and integrating Lean Management principles for operational excellence. [Read full explanation]
What metrics or KPIs are most effective for measuring the success of an Obeya implementation?
Maximize Operational Excellence with Obeya: Measure success through Project Completion Time, Budget Adherence, Quality of Deliverables, Cycle Time reduction, and enhanced Stakeholder Satisfaction for strategic business transformation. [Read full explanation]
How does the role of leadership change in an organization that adopts Obeya principles?
Adopting Obeya principles transforms leadership roles from command-and-control to facilitative, emphasizing Collaboration, Continuous Improvement, Transparency, and Accountability, fostering a culture of Innovation and Operational Excellence. [Read full explanation]

Recommended Documents

Related Case Studies

Operational Excellence for Semiconductor Manufacturer in High-Tech Industry

Scenario: The semiconductor manufacturer is grappling with the challenge of integrating an Obeya approach to enhance cross-functional collaboration and decision-making speed.

Read Full Case Study

Obeya Optimization for Construction Management

Scenario: The organization is a mid-sized construction company specializing in commercial real estate projects.

Read Full Case Study

Obeya Implementation and Improvement for a Global Technology Company

Scenario: A multinational technology company is struggling with the implementation and optimization of its Obeya.

Read Full Case Study

Obeya Digital Transformation for Global E-commerce Firm

Scenario: The company is a leading e-commerce player experiencing difficulty in maintaining its Obeya—a centralized space for cross-functional teams to collaborate and monitor project progress.

Read Full Case Study

Operational Excellence for Maritime Shipping Firm in Asia-Pacific

Scenario: A maritime shipping company in the Asia-Pacific region is struggling with its Obeya room efficiency.

Read Full Case Study

Obeya Optimization for Agritech Firm in Sustainable Agriculture

Scenario: An international agritech firm specializing in sustainable agriculture is struggling to maintain the efficacy of its Obeya room.

Read Full Case Study

Explore all Flevy Management Case Studies




Flevy is the world's largest knowledge base of best practices.


Leverage the Experience of Experts.

Find documents of the same caliber as those used by top-tier consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture.

Download Immediately and Use.

Our PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, and Word documents are completely customizable, including rebrandable.

Save Time, Effort, and Money.

Save yourself and your employees countless hours. Use that time to work on more value-added and fulfilling activities.



Receive our FREE presentation on Operational Excellence

This 50-slide presentation provides a high-level introduction to the 4 Building Blocks of Operational Excellence. Achieving OpEx requires the implementation of a Business Execution System that integrates these 4 building blocks.