How do you apply process flow diagramming to agile and lean methodologies?

Process flow diagrams are visual tools that help you map out the steps, inputs, outputs, and resources involved in a process. They can help you identify bottlenecks, waste, and opportunities for improvement. But how do you use them in agile and lean methodologies, which emphasize flexibility, collaboration, and customer value? In this article, you will learn how to apply process flow diagramming to agile and lean projects, and how it can benefit your team and your customers.

1 Agile and lean principles

Agile and lean are two related approaches to software development and project management that focus on delivering value to customers in short iterations, adapting to changing requirements, and eliminating waste. Agile is a set of values and principles that guide teams to collaborate, self-organize, and respond to feedback. Lean is a philosophy and a set of practices that aim to maximize customer value and minimize waste by eliminating anything that does not add value to the product or service. Both agile and lean emphasize the importance of visualizing the work, measuring the outcomes, and learning from the results.

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2 Process flow diagrams in agile and lean

Process flow diagrams can help agile and lean teams visualize the work they do, from the initial idea to the final delivery. They can also help them measure the performance of their process, identify the sources of waste and inefficiency, and find ways to improve it. For example, a process flow diagram can show how long it takes to complete each step of the process, how many tasks are in progress at any given time, how often defects or errors occur, and how much value is delivered to the customer. By analyzing the process flow diagram, the team can spot problems and opportunities, and implement changes to optimize the flow.

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3 Types of process flow diagrams

Agile and lean teams can use different types of process flow diagrams depending on the level of detail and complexity they need. Value stream maps, for instance, show the flow of value from the customer's perspective, including steps, inputs, outputs, resources, and metrics. This can help the team understand customer needs and expectations and align their work with the customer's value proposition. Kanban boards are also useful to visualize work in progress, limit work in each stage, and monitor flow and quality. User story maps demonstrate the flow of user stories from the user's perspective, helping to prioritize user stories, plan product scope and features, and deliver value incrementally.

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4 How to create a process flow diagram

The process of creating a process flow diagram can vary depending on the type, purpose, and context of the diagram. However, some general steps that can help you create a process flow diagram include defining the scope and boundaries of the process, identifying the steps, activities, and tasks involved, collecting and analyzing data and metrics related to the process, drawing the process flow diagram using symbols, shapes, colors, and labels, and reviewing and improving it based on feedback. To define the scope and boundaries of the process, consider the start and end point of the process, who are the customers and stakeholders of the process, and what are the inputs and outputs of the process. When identifying steps involved in the process, consider what actions need to be performed to complete it and how they are sequenced and connected. Collect data on how long it takes to complete each step, how many items are in progress at each stage, how often errors or defects occur, etc. Draw a clear diagram with consistent notation using software tools or online platforms. Finally, review and improve it based on feedback, observations and results to optimize the flow and increase value.

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Paula Raven, PMP

I am an agent of change. Fractional Chief of Staff. Specializing in Program Management & Operations | Project Management, Product Management, & Process Development.
A requirement for creating a process flow diagram - talk to the users. This means operators and customers. These people are a part of the process every day they know the details that are not apparent to outsiders (management, etc.). They may already have ideas on how to improve the process or changes that never made it to documentation.
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5 Benefits of process flow diagrams

Using process flow diagrams in agile and lean projects can bring many advantages to your team and customers, such as improving communication and collaboration, increasing transparency and accountability, reducing waste and errors, and enhancing customer satisfaction. It also helps to create a shared understanding of the process by providing a common visual language. Additionally, it can increase efficiency and quality by streamlining the process flow while boosting customer loyalty by delivering value faster, more frequently, and more reliably.

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