Value streams

We saw that SAFe principle #10 talked about organizing around value. To do that, our organization must set up and use value streams to make sure we consistently deliver value to the customer. But what precisely is a value stream?

The classic definition of a value stream comes from Lean thinking It describes the steps, the people that perform those steps, and the times associated with each step. It then becomes a platform for optimization so that an organization can reduce lead times.

SAFe takes this classic definition and applies it in two contexts. The first context is an operational value stream that describes the interaction the customer or end user has with the organization and which products are used in that interaction. The second context is a development value stream that describes the process of development of a product or solution.

We will first examine the classic definition and then move to how they have evolved into operational and development value...