Lean Business Operations - Dancing Across Silos (#21)

“You will cross some silos, stretch some rules, but in the end, you work together, have joy, and achieve greatness.” - Nikolaos Kaintantzis

In this penultimate episode of the SPCs Unleashed Competency journey, hosts Mark Richards, Nikolaos (Niko) Kaintantzis, and Stephan Neck dive into the dimension of Lean Business Operations within the SAFe competency model. The trio explores the critical role of leveraging value stream thinking to enhance flow in business operations and product development, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship.

Mark starts the discussion by addressing the often-confused concepts of the Operational Value Stream (OVS) and the Development Value Stream (DVS). He shares his experiences with value stream mapping and the challenges of simplifying these concepts for organizations. Niko brings a unique perspective by likening lean operations to Greek dancing, where collaboration and unity lead to crossing silos and achieving greatness.

Stephan and Niko share their favorite techniques for effective value stream mapping, stressing the importance of involving the right people and focusing on a customer-centric approach. They highlight strategies for extending the flow of conversation beyond technology, including starting from the customer's perspective to identify triggers for change and mapping true value streams.

The conversation delves into the challenges of integrating business and technology perspectives, especially when organizations are accustomed to operating in silos. The hosts emphasize the necessity of a holistic view and mutual understanding to drive innovation and efficiency. They also offer practical advice for SPCs, such as getting help from peers, practicing new tools personally before applying them with clients and focusing on taking actionable steps to address bottlenecks.

The episode concludes with a spirited debate on the most relevant Measure and Grow metric. While opinions differ, the consensus highlights the importance of visualizing bottlenecks and promptly addressing them rather than just identifying issues.

References:

The Lean Machine - Dantar P. Oosterwal
Lean Product and Process Development - Allen C. Ward