DAC Value Stream Mapping 3

Question 1

What distinguishes a 'kaizen burst' symbol on a future-state Value Stream Map?

Accepted Answer

A starburst shape marking areas targeted for rapid improvement

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Time a work item spends waiting before the next person or team begins working on it

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

The step with the longest cycle time relative to its available capacity

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Waiting for regulatory or compliance reviews

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Lack of built-in quality and low organizational trust in the development process

Answer

Excessive approval gates often reflect low trust in quality practices; DA coaches address this by building quality in and establishing automated quality gates.

(DAC) Certified Disciplined Agile Coach Practice Test

(DAC) Certified Disciplined Agile Coach Practice Test

DAC Value Stream Mapping 3