DAC Value Stream Mapping 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What distinguishes a 'kaizen burst' symbol on a future-state Value Stream Map?
- A starburst shape marking areas targeted for rapid improvement (Correct answer)
- A red X indicating steps to be eliminated
- A triangle showing inventory accumulation points
- A double arrow indicating rework loops
Correct 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.
Question 2: In the context of Value Stream Mapping for software delivery, what does 'queue time' represent?
- Time spent in active development by the team
- Time a work item spends waiting before the next person or team begins working on it (Correct answer)
- Time required for automated testing to complete
- Time allocated in sprint planning ceremonies
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which metric from Value Stream Mapping directly helps a DA coach identify the constraint in a system?
- Defect rate per process step
- The step with the longest cycle time relative to its available capacity (Correct answer)
- Total number of handoffs across the stream
- The ratio of manual to automated steps
Correct 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.
Question 4: When mapping a software value stream, which activity is most commonly identified as non-value-added but necessary?
- Writing unit tests
- Waiting for regulatory or compliance reviews (Correct answer)
- Code refactoring
- Pair programming sessions
Correct 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.
Question 5: A DA coach reviewing a current-state VSM notices multiple approval gates between development and deployment. What systemic problem does this most likely indicate?
- Insufficient team velocity
- Lack of built-in quality and low organizational trust in the development process (Correct answer)
- Overemphasis on continuous integration
- Too many parallel work streams
Correct 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.
Question 6: In Value Stream Mapping, what is the correct order for creating a complete VSM?
- Future state → Current state → Implementation plan
- Current state → Future state → Implementation plan (Correct answer)
- Implementation plan → Current state → Future state
- Future state → Implementation plan → Current state
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which DA principle most directly aligns with the VSM practice of identifying and eliminating handoff waste?
- Be Awesome
- Delight Customers
- Keep it Simple (Correct answer)
- Embrace and Exploit Agility
Correct answer: Keep it Simple
DA's 'Keep it Simple' principle encourages removing unnecessary complexity, including redundant handoffs that complicate flow without adding customer value.
DAC Value Stream Mapping 3
What distinguishes a 'kaizen burst' symbol on a future-state Value Stream Map?