Value Stream Mapping Flashcards
7 cards from real DAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Value Stream Mapping flashcards as text
What distinguishes a 'kaizen burst' symbol on a future-state Value Stream Map?
Answer: A starburst shape marking areas targeted for rapid improvement
Kaizen bursts are starburst symbols placed on the future-state map to highlight specific process steps targeted for immediate improvement events.
In the context of Value Stream Mapping for software delivery, what does 'queue time' represent?
Answer: Time a work item spends waiting before the next person or team begins working on it
Queue time is idle wait time between active processing steps and typically accounts for the majority of total lead time in software delivery.
Which metric from Value Stream Mapping directly helps a DA coach identify the constraint in a system?
Answer: The step with the longest cycle time relative to its available capacity
The bottleneck or constraint is the step whose cycle time exceeds takt time or has the highest utilization, limiting overall throughput.
When mapping a software value stream, which activity is most commonly identified as non-value-added but necessary?
Answer: Waiting for regulatory or compliance reviews
Compliance and regulatory reviews are classified as 'necessary non-value-added' (Type 1 Muda) because customers don't value them but business rules require them.
A DA coach reviewing a current-state VSM notices multiple approval gates between development and deployment. What systemic problem does this most likely indicate?
Answer: Lack of built-in quality and low organizational trust in the development process
Excessive approval gates often reflect low trust in quality practices; DA coaches address this by building quality in and establishing automated quality gates.
In Value Stream Mapping, what is the correct order for creating a complete VSM?
Answer: Current state → Future state → Implementation plan
You must first understand current reality (current-state map) before designing the improved flow (future-state map) and then planning implementation.
Which DA principle most directly aligns with the VSM practice of identifying and eliminating handoff waste?
Answer: Keep it Simple
DA's 'Keep it Simple' principle encourages removing unnecessary complexity, including redundant handoffs that complicate flow without adding customer value.