Why The Funny Name?

"Gemba" (pronounced gĕm-bä) is a Japanese term that roughly translates into "the place where the truth can be seen", "the place where the work is done" or the "workshop floor."

The term "gemba" comes from the Lean Manufacturing culture established by Toyota. The context of its meaning is this: "If you want to know what's happening in your business, you have to go to the Gemba (i.e. the workshop floor) where the value is produced and the truth can be seen."

The place where the work is done holds truths and nuances that cannot be seen from a spreadsheet, portfolio dashboard, or other abstraction. In order to improve the value chain and the flow of value, you must actually go to where value is produced.

Wikipedia describes Gemba this way:

So why this name?

We're not in the manufacturing business, but we are avid students and practitioners of Lean business practices. Gemba applies Lean Thinking, Agile Development and related management techniques to improve product development. We believe the key to increasing value is by working directly with those who produce that value. Everything we do is intended for the shop floor and those who work there.  As the "systems" half of our name implies, we have the techniques, tools, and supplies to improve your development team's skill and integrate our experience into your company's "gemba."