PMI CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Examination Content OutlineAgile Frameworks/MethodologiesHard
A team using Kanban is observing that work items are frequently getting stuck in a 'Testing' column, leading to a build-up of completed development work that isn't reaching the customer. What Lean principle is primarily being violated, and what is the immediate action the team should consider?
- ADecide as late as possible; defer the decision on how to fix the bottleneck until the next retrospective.
- BDeliver fast; increase the number of developers to speed up the 'Development' column.
- CAmplify learning; conduct a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to understand the testing bottleneck.
- DOptimize the whole; focus team efforts on resolving the bottleneck in 'Testing' before starting new development work.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Optimize the whole; focus team efforts on resolving the bottleneck in 'Testing' before starting new development work.
A build-up of work in one column indicates a bottleneck, which hinders the flow of value through the entire system. The Lean principle 'Optimize the whole' emphasizes improving the overall system, not just individual parts. The team should swarm on the bottleneck to resolve it and restore flow.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Deferring the decision would prolong the bottleneck and violate the principle of 'Optimizing the whole' by not addressing the immediate impediment to flow.
- B. Increasing developers in 'Development' would only exacerbate the 'Testing' bottleneck, violating 'Optimize the whole' by focusing on local optimization.
- C. Amplify learning is a valid Lean principle, and RCA could be part of a long-term solution, but the immediate action should be to address the flow issue.
Lean Principle: Optimize the Whole
Focus on improving the overall system and value stream, rather than optimizing individual components, to ensure continuous flow and value delivery.
- Improve the entire value stream.
- Avoid local optimization.
- Identify and resolve bottlenecks.
- Ensures continuous flow.
Memory trick: To keep the value flowing, optimize the whole river, not just one struggling boat.