Optimizing Development Cadences and Value Deliveries

Cadences in Lean and Agile environments are not new concepts. Agile uses an Iterative and Incremental Development (IID) model to establish a rapid development and delivery cadence, exemplified by the Sprints in Scrum. In contrast, Lean focuses on value stream flows, with a production goal to establish a cadence that matches takt time. The German word takt means pulse or beat, conceptually aiming to align production capacities with customer demands.

This is where we begin to see inconsistencies between Scrum and Lean concepts of cadence. For instance, the Scrum Guide suggests a fixed length for Sprints of one month or less, emphasizing consistency in whatever length you choose. In contrast, Lean flows can vary significantly, being much quicker or longer depending on the size and complexity of the development effort. For example, tasks in a modern CI/CD line might be measured in seconds, minutes, or hours, while a Lean production...