Lean – Principles, Practices & Techniques

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define what Lean is in the context of agile methodologies
• Explain the origin of Lean in the manufacturing and production setting
• List the core principles in Lean methodology
  

  Eliminate waste (Muda) Amplify learning Decide as late as possible Deliver as fast as possible Empower the team Build integrate in See the whole

• Describe the journey from Lean production to Lean software development
• Describe the role of Lean in transformation in software development
• List and relate the ten commandments for improvement in Lean:
  

  Abandon fixed ideas Think of ways to make it possible No excuses needed Go for the simple solution, not the perfect one Correct mistakes right away Use your wits and not your wallet Problems are opportunities Repeat WHY? five times Seek ideas from many people There is no end to improvement

• Provide the rationale for reducing waste (Muda) and increasing value
• Explain the factors contributing to waste in manufacturing and software
• Define the roles and their responsibilities in Lean software development projects
• Describe the key practices in Lean and their relevance to software
  1. Think of options, wait for the last responsible moment and decide
  2. Conceptual integrity and perceived integrity
  3. Importance of refactoring
  4. Significance of testing and quality assurance, control
  5. Right measurements in place
  6. Contracts and their significance
•  Explain how continuous improvement is key in Lean
  

  Plan –> Analyse Do –> Implement Check –> Evaluate Act  –> Identify & Act

• Describe the different ways and approaches to reducing waste (Muda)
• Identify the mechanisms of working with different stakeholders
• List and explain the working of different root-cause analysis techniques
  • Fishbone diagram/Ishikawa technique
  • 5-WHY technique
  • 5S’s – Sort, Stabilise, Shine, Standardise, Sustain
  • Ask the right questions – What, who, why, when, where and how
• Explain how Lean fits in and works with other agile methodologies
• Describe the various steps in DMAIC tool adopted from Six Sigma framework:
  • Define – State the business problem
  • Measure – Set the baselines for performance
  • Analyse – Go to the root of the problem
  • Improve – Identify the steps in solving the problem
  • Control – Assess the results/outcomes from implementation