APK Slides

Question 1

What is kanban?

Answer 1

is a strategy for optimizing the flow of value
through a process that uses a visual, pull-based system

Question 2

Why are smaller batches better than larger ones?

Answer 2

• Faster Feedback
• It took longer to estimate the work
  than to do it
• Problems with flow are hidden in
  big batches
• Small batches and limited WIP
  create stable systems that lead to
  higher levels of predictability
• Same amount of work gets done
  faster with small batches

Question 3

What are the three elements of optimized flow?

Answer 3

Effective: Deliver what customers want when they want it
Predictable: Accurately forecasts delivery
Efficient: Allocated financial resources optimally

Question 4

What are the kanban core practices?

Answer 4

1. Defining and visuailizing a workflow
2. Actively managing items in a workflow
3. Improving a workflow
   … and the metrics we use
   to do these things.

Question 5

What are the actions to actively manage items in a workflow?

Answer 5

1. Controlling WIP
2. Unblocking blocked work
3. Avoiding work item pileups
4. Avoid unnecessary work item aging

Question 6

What is the equation for Average Cycle Time?

Answer 6

Average WIP / Average Throughput

Question 7

What is Cycle Time?

Answer 7

How long it takes one item to go through the process

Question 8

What is Work in Progress?

Answer 8

How many items are in the process at any time

Question 9

What is Throughput?

Answer 9

How many items are complete per unit of time

Question 10

How do you limit WIP?

Answer 10

Control the number of items you pull

Question 11

How do you create flow?

Answer 11

Pull items

Question 12

How do you reach economic outcomes?

Answer 12

Through flow

Question 13

What are the 6 minimum elements for defining a Kanban workflow?

Answer 13

• A definition of the individual units of value that are moving through the workflow. These units
  of value are
  referred to as work items (or items).
• A definition for when work items are started and finished within the workflow. Your workflow may
  have more than one started or finished points depending on the work item.
• One or more defined states that the work items flow through from started to finished. Any work
  items between a started point and a finished point are considered work in progress (WIP).
• A definition of how WIP will be controlled from started to finished.
• Explicit policies about how work items can flow through each state from started to finished.
• A service level expectation (SLE), which is a forecast of how long it should take a work item to
  flow from
  started to finished.

Question 14

What are the four metrics?

Answer 14

1. Work in Progress
2. Work Item Age
3. Cycle Time
4. Throughput