The concept of waste is important to understand for Agile teams. This short article is one of my earliest on Agile Advice. It connects Agile and Lean concepts at a very basic level. Lean is a huge topic itself and many people associate Agile and Lean quite closely. In fact, many of the authors of the Agile Manifesto have stated in numerous venues that their ideas for Agile were inspired by Lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System. For anyone serious about improving organizations in general, a strong knowledge of Lean is a must!
Waste is the result of activities or environmental conditions that prevent a team from reaching its goal. The opposite of waste is something that adds value (more, faster or higher quality) to the desired result.
The whole notion of eliminating waste comes from lean manufacturing. More recently, Mary and Tom Poppendieck applied this idea to software in their book “Lean Software Development: An Agile Toolkit for Software Development Managers“. In this (excellent) book, the authors list the wastes of manufacturing and the wastes of software. Here I have summarized and generalized these types of wastes so that they apply in any situation:
The Seven Wastes
- Waiting caused by delays, unreadiness, or simple procrastination.
- Partially done work or inventory caused by sub-optimal workflow.
- Extra processing or processes caused by poor organization or bureaucracy.
- Defects and rework caused by insufficient skill, tools, inspection or filtering.
- Movement of people or work caused by physical separation.
- Overproduction or extra features caused by working towards speculative goals.
- Task switching caused by multiple commitments.
As wastes are eliminated or reduced, a team will function faster and with higher quality. However, not all waste can be eliminated. Sometimes waste is legislated, sometimes waste is an unavoidable byproduct of work, sometimes mistakes are made, and sometimes it takes a great deal of effort to eliminate a waste.
In order to eliminate waste, first waste has to be detected and identified, then the underlying causes of the waste have to be identified, and finally changes to the work environment need to be made to both eliminate the cause of the waste and the waste itself. Many Agile work practices help with this process.
Value stream mapping is one particular tool that can be used by a team or organization to identify wasteful activities. The team describes the amount of time that work takes to go through each activity in their overall work process. Next, the team determines if each activity adds value or does not add value to the end goal. All activities are subject to speed improvements, and activities that do not add value are subject to elimination.
In order to determine the causes of waste, special attention should be paid to incentives and motivations. Wasteful behaviour often exists because there is some incentive for people to do it. Sometimes these incentives are explicit, but sometimes they are the side-effects of other things going on in the team’s environment. Changing the incentives can be an effective way of reducing waste.
By eliminating waste, the team will find it has reduced frustrations, and enabled greater productivity and creativity. The team will also increase its speed and delivery of value, and at the same time reduce defects.
[This article was originally published on Agile Advice on 27-Apr-2005]
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Kanban System Design® (KMPI)
13 to 14 JUN 2023 (2 days) - Starting Tuesday - Online - David Vicentin
C$1895.00 Register Now- Improve Knowledge Work Productivity -
This 2-day workshop - Kanban System Design (KSD) - also known as 'Kanban for Real Agility®' - provides you with the fundamentals of the Kanban Method® . It is designed specifically for leaders starting their organization on the gentler path towards Real Agility™. This learning event is ideal for you if you are responsible for the delivery of a service. Learn the concepts of flow, pull, classes of service, and learn to deal with interruptions and multi-tasking. Learn the Systems Thinking Approach To Implementing Kanban (STATIK) through a multi-step interactive case study review.
This KSD course, (formerly known as Kanban Management Professional 1 - KMP I), is the first of two courses towards the Kanban Management Professional (KMP) credential. The KSD is the prerequisite to the Kanban Systems Improvement course (KSI). By completing both this course (KSD) and the KSI, participants can earn their KMP credential with Kanban University®.
Key Benefits
- Participate in a Kanban simulation for immersive learning
- Design your service's Kanban board with guidance from our Kanban experts
- Start your Kanban adoption and in evolving your system
- Earn 16 PDUs | 16 SEUs
- Obtain your Kanban University® KSD certificate
- Completion of this and the KSI class will earn you the Kanban University® KMP credential
- Get a profile listing on the Kanban University® alumni page
- We are a Registered Education Provider with Kanban University® and PMI®
- Taught by and overseen by Accredited Kanban Trainers (AKT's)
EXCLUSIVE: Free "Kanban for Managers" e-book written by BERTEIG consultants!
Download the recommended reading by "David J. Anderson and Andy Carmichael":
Essential Kanban Condensed
Please register using a corporate email address, for corporate loyalty program discounts.
Read MoreLocation:
Online
Date:
Tue 13-Jun-2023
Wed 14-Jun-2023
Time:
09:00 AM to 05:00 PM (EST)
Trainer:
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Kanban System Design® (KMPI)
26 to 27 SEP 2023 (2 days) - Starting Tuesday - Online - David Vicentin
Early-bird Discount! C$1795.00 C$1525.75 Until 12-Sep Register Now- Improve Knowledge Work Productivity -
This 2-day workshop - Kanban System Design (KSD) - also known as 'Kanban for Real Agility®' - provides you with the fundamentals of the Kanban Method® . It is designed specifically for leaders starting their organization on the gentler path towards Real Agility™. This learning event is ideal for you if you are responsible for the delivery of a service. Learn the concepts of flow, pull, classes of service, and learn to deal with interruptions and multi-tasking. Learn the Systems Thinking Approach To Implementing Kanban (STATIK) through a multi-step interactive case study review.
This KSD course, (formerly known as Kanban Management Professional 1 - KMP I), is the first of two courses towards the Kanban Management Professional (KMP) credential. The KSD is the prerequisite to the Kanban Systems Improvement course (KSI). By completing both this course (KSD) and the KSI, participants can earn their KMP credential with Kanban University®.
Key Benefits
- Participate in a Kanban simulation for immersive learning
- Design your service's Kanban board with guidance from our Kanban experts
- Start your Kanban adoption and in evolving your system
- Earn 16 PDUs | 16 SEUs
- Obtain your Kanban University® KSD certificate
- Completion of this and the KSI class will earn you the Kanban University® KMP credential
- Get a profile listing on the Kanban University® alumni page
- We are a Registered Education Provider with Kanban University® and PMI®
- Taught by and overseen by Accredited Kanban Trainers (AKT's)
EXCLUSIVE: Free "Kanban for Managers" e-book written by BERTEIG consultants!
Download the recommended reading by "David J. Anderson and Andy Carmichael":
Essential Kanban Condensed
Please register using a corporate email address, for corporate loyalty program discounts.
Read MoreLocation:
Online
Date:
Tue 26-Sep-2023
Wed 27-Sep-2023
Time:
09:00 AM to 05:00 PM (EST)
Trainer:
-
Kanban System Design® (KMPI)
12 to 13 DEC 2023 (2 days) - Starting Tuesday - Online - David Vicentin
Early-bird Discount! C$1795.00 C$1525.75 Until 28-Nov Register Now- Improve Knowledge Work Productivity -
This 2-day workshop - Kanban System Design (KSD) - also known as 'Kanban for Real Agility®' - provides you with the fundamentals of the Kanban Method® . It is designed specifically for leaders starting their organization on the gentler path towards Real Agility™. This learning event is ideal for you if you are responsible for the delivery of a service. Learn the concepts of flow, pull, classes of service, and learn to deal with interruptions and multi-tasking. Learn the Systems Thinking Approach To Implementing Kanban (STATIK) through a multi-step interactive case study review.
This KSD course, (formerly known as Kanban Management Professional 1 - KMP I), is the first of two courses towards the Kanban Management Professional (KMP) credential. The KSD is the prerequisite to the Kanban Systems Improvement course (KSI). By completing both this course (KSD) and the KSI, participants can earn their KMP credential with Kanban University®.
Key Benefits
- Participate in a Kanban simulation for immersive learning
- Design your service's Kanban board with guidance from our Kanban experts
- Start your Kanban adoption and in evolving your system
- Earn 16 PDUs | 16 SEUs
- Obtain your Kanban University® KSD certificate
- Completion of this and the KSI class will earn you the Kanban University® KMP credential
- Get a profile listing on the Kanban University® alumni page
- We are a Registered Education Provider with Kanban University® and PMI®
- Taught by and overseen by Accredited Kanban Trainers (AKT's)
EXCLUSIVE: Free "Kanban for Managers" e-book written by BERTEIG consultants!
Download the recommended reading by "David J. Anderson and Andy Carmichael":
Essential Kanban Condensed
Please register using a corporate email address, for corporate loyalty program discounts.
Read MoreLocation:
Online
Date:
Tue 12-Dec-2023
Wed 13-Dec-2023
Time:
09:00 AM to 05:00 PM (EST)
Trainer:
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Kanban Systems Improvement® (KMPII)
11 to 12 JUL 2023 (2 days) - Starting Tuesday - Online - David Vicentin
Early-bird Discount! C$1895.00 C$1610.75 Until 25-Jun Register Now- Optimize Services for Flow and Performance -
This 2-day workshop - Kanban Systems Improvement (KSI) - focuses on the leadership aspect as well as the roll out and daily operation of a multi-service system using Kanban as a management method. You will also learn how to use Kanban to manage, optimize, scale, and evolve your system over time.
This KSI course, (formerly known as Kanban Management Professional 2 - KMP II), is the second of two courses towards the Kanban Management Professional (KMP) credential. The Kanban System Design (KSD) course is the prerequisite to this course. By completing both the KSD as well as this course (KSI), participants can earn their KMP credential with Kanban University®.
Learning Objectives
- Managing Evolutionary Change
- Dealing with Resistance to Change
- Feedback Loops and Continuous Learning
- Implementing and Scaling out Kanban
- Balancing Demand and Capability
- Optimizing Flow and Predictability
Key Benefits
- Earn 16 PDUs | 16 SEUs
- Obtain your Kanban University® KSI certificate
- Completion of this and the KSD class will earn you the Kanban University® KMP credential
- Get a profile listing on the Kanban University® alumni page
- We are a Registered Education Provider with Kanban University® and PMI®
- Taught by and overseen by Accredited Kanban Trainers (AKT's)
EXCLUSIVE: Free "Agile Advice" e-book written by BERTEIG consultants!
Please register using a corporate email address, for corporate loyalty program discounts.
Read MoreLocation:
Online
Date:
Tue 11-Jul-2023
Wed 12-Jul-2023
Time:
09:00 AM to 05:00 PM (EST)
Trainer:
-
Kanban Systems Improvement® (KMPII)
25 to 26 OCT 2023 (2 days) - Starting Wednesday - Online - David Vicentin
Early-bird Discount! C$1795.00 C$1525.75 Until 11-Oct Register Now- Optimize Services for Flow and Performance -
This 2-day workshop - Kanban Systems Improvement (KSI) - focuses on the leadership aspect as well as the roll out and daily operation of a multi-service system using Kanban as a management method. You will also learn how to use Kanban to manage, optimize, scale, and evolve your system over time.
This KSI course, (formerly known as Kanban Management Professional 2 - KMP II), is the second of two courses towards the Kanban Management Professional (KMP) credential. The Kanban System Design (KSD) course is the prerequisite to this course. By completing both the KSD as well as this course (KSI), participants can earn their KMP credential with Kanban University®.
Learning Objectives
- Managing Evolutionary Change
- Dealing with Resistance to Change
- Feedback Loops and Continuous Learning
- Implementing and Scaling out Kanban
- Balancing Demand and Capability
- Optimizing Flow and Predictability
Key Benefits
- Earn 16 PDUs | 16 SEUs
- Obtain your Kanban University® KSI certificate
- Completion of this and the KSD class will earn you the Kanban University® KMP credential
- Get a profile listing on the Kanban University® alumni page
- We are a Registered Education Provider with Kanban University® and PMI®
- Taught by and overseen by Accredited Kanban Trainers (AKT's)
EXCLUSIVE: Free "Agile Advice" e-book written by BERTEIG consultants!
Please register using a corporate email address, for corporate loyalty program discounts.
Read MoreLocation:
Online
Date:
Wed 25-Oct-2023
Thu 26-Oct-2023
Time:
09:00 AM to 05:00 PM (EST)
Trainer:
Berteig Consulting
Empower Your Entire Organization with BERTEIG Consulting in Agile, Scrum, Kanban, SAFe and LEAN.