Lean and Agile – two sides of the coin

Lean and Agile are complementary but distinct areas of focus for your operating model and should be balanced against each other to ensure smooth progress and performance. We discussed the developmental and operational spectrum of value streams in Chapter 6, with a deeper understanding of value streams as interconnected networks of people, processes, information, and technology in Chapter 7.

With its focus on adaptation and rapid delivery, agile techniques sit on the developmental side, striving for increased effectiveness with the associated uncertainty and inconsistency. Conversely, lean techniques emphasize the minimization of waste and the implementation of pull production control strategies and standardization where possible. Each balances the other to enable sustainable value delivery. The challenge is to leverage value stream concepts intelligently, applying Lean principles where appropriate to improve productivity and quality...