Base120 · Recursion

Recursive Improvement (Kaizen)

RE · Recursion

Continuously refine process through small, frequent enhancements

Model code
RE1
Transformation
RE (Recursion) — Improve iteratively through feedback, reflection, and self-referential refinement.
Priority
1 of 20
Framework
HUMMBL Base120 — 120 mental models across 6 transformations

When to use

"Use when big-bang improvements are risky or infeasible. Make small, frequent enhancements that compound over time. The cumulative effect of many small improvements often exceeds the effect of rare large ones."

Example

"A team adopts a practice of one small improvement per week — better error messages, faster tests, clearer docs. After a year, 52 improvements have compounded into a noticeably better codebase, with no single change being risky."

Common misuse

"Making small improvements that are not aligned with a direction. Random small improvements do not compound; they accumulate as noise. Kaizen requires a target state to steer toward."

Also known as

KaizenContinuous Improvement

Related models

RE9RE10P12