Measuring Value Chain, Steams and Process Maps

The kingfisher was about this far away!

Each mapping layer, value chains, value streams, and process maps serve related but different purposes. As an organization drills down from a value chain to a process map different measures and metrics are exposed. One could summarize value chain metrics as high-level cost, revenue and speed while process mapping as variations on effort, delay, and work-in-process. Each metric set is highly related but targeted at different levels of the organization.

Value Chain Metrics Pallet

 

Value Chains, Streams and Maps – What a Mess!

I recently presented a workshop on value chain mapping to the NE Ohio Scrum Users Group (note for those who say user groups are passe – this is one of seven heavily attend users group that I attend in multiple cities). Preparing for the workshop and then based on the reaction of the attendees, it became very apparent that three terms are often conflated or confused. The three concepts are value chain, value stream, and process map.  Each concept is a reflection of different level of analysis each are necessary to develop a solid understanding of how a piece of work is transformed into a shippable product and identifying the customer you are trying to serve.

 

Guardrails Don’t Always Work

 

No Guardrails Needed

Guardrails are a tool to ensure alignment with the organization’s goals and objectives and to keep people on the right path, but they are not effective in all circumstances. Three circumstances that lead guardrails to be less useful include:

 

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande, Re-read Week 4 – The End Of The Master Builder

In week 4 of re-read of The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along) we tackle Chapter 3, The End Of The Master Builder.  In Chapter 3 Gawande identifies the scenarios in which checklists have an impact. Checklists provide value even in complicated scenarios.

 

SPaMCAST 392 – Mix Tape 2009, Lister, Chemuturi, Brennan

www.spamcast.net

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I am still traveling for the next two weeks. The trip is a mixture of vacation and a board meeting but that does not mean you will have to forego your weekly SPaMCAST.  In place of our normal format, I am posting a mix tape of the answers to the “If you could change two things” question I have been asking interviewees for nearly ten years.  This week on SPaMCAST 392 we feature our top downloaded podcasts from the year 2009:

SPaMCAST 51 – Tim Lister on Adrenaline Junkies and Template Zombies

http://bit.ly/1WERtk5

Tim discussed ending the estimating charade.  Tim stated it would be better if we recognized estimating as goal setting. Secondly, he noted that a lot of outsourcing has overshot its mark and reduced our organizational capabilities.

SPaMCAST 67 – Murali Chemuturi on Software Estimation Best Practices, Tools & Techniques

http://bit.ly/1MHDzeJ

Murali used his wishes to state that estimators need a better grasp and understanding the concepts of productivity and scheduling.

SPaMCAST 69 – Kevin Brennan on Business Analysis

http://bit.ly/1WERB2V

Kevin answered a different question and discussed the message he would share with a C-Level executive to describe why business analysis is important to them.

If you enjoyed the snippets please use the links to listen to the whole interviews.  Next week 2010!

 

SPaMCAST 391 – Mix Tape 2007 – 2008, McKnight, Iwanicki, Goldsmith

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The first full Software Process and Measurement Cast posted on January 29^th, 2007.  When the first cast posted we were on an every other week schedule whereas today we post weekly.  Over the next few weeks, I will be traveling.  The trip is a mixture of vacation and a board meeting but that does not mean you will have to forego your weekly SPaMCAST.  In place of our normal format, I will post a mixtape of the answers to the “If you could change two things” question I have been asking interviewees for nearly ten years.

SPaMCAST 391 will feature our top downloaded podcasts from the years of 2007 and 2008:

SPaMCAST 2 – Will McKnight on Process and Product Quality Assurance

Will used his wishes to talk about the need for an organizational process focus and the guidance to sustain process improvement.

SPaMCAST 4 – Stasia Iwanicki on Six Sigma

Stasia used her first wish to address requirements capture, development, and management.  Her second wish was for better measurement for supporting the software development process.

SPaMCAST 49 – Robin Goldsmith on Requirements

Robin used his wishes to discuss the need to capture and validate the real business requirements which lead to better systems.

If you enjoyed the snippets please use the links to listen to the whole interviews.  Next week 2009!