At a glance
Continuous Improvement Using Lean and Agile
No process is both complete and optimal - once we master a process at one level, we see deficiencies that were previously hidden and the cycle begins again.
This course looks at general principles of continuous improvement, using Agile, Lean manufacturing and Lean software development techniques as starting points and some common thinking tools for problem analysis, process optimisation and waste reduction.
This course looks at how to improve any process using Lean/Agile principles, not just within software development projects.
The course also examines how Lean principles can be used to bring agility to the portfolio and pipeline management area. How to focus on 'doing the right work' and not just 'doing the work right'.
This course is part of Agile Academy curriculum. Software Education is proud to be a founding partner of the Agile Academy.
Intended For
This course is appropriate for people at all levels of skill and authority across an organisation, both in business and in IT. It teaches a mindset combined with techniques and is useful for managers and leaders looking to build high performing teams.
Prerequisites
Participants need to have a basic understanding of business processes, and of the principles and practices of Agile projects. For an introduction to Agile practices see our Taste of Agile course.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will end the course with a set of skills and tools they can then apply to improving processes in their areas of responsibility.
Content
Continuous improvement principles
- History of Lean and Agile
- Principles and core philosophies of 'Kaizen' or small continuous improvement
- Eliminate Waste
- Flow, Pull and Cadence
- Amplify Learning
- Decide as late as possible
- Deliver as fast as possible
- Empower the team - self organising teams
- Build integrity in
- See the whole
Tools and Techniques for implementing continuous improvement
- Seeing Waste
- Value Stream Mapping
- Queuing Theory
- Pull Systems
- Root cause analysis
- Impact analysis
- Wisdom of the crowd
- Collective decision making techniques
- Bringing in experts
- Focussing on risks and outcomes
Using the PDCA model
- PDCA
- Effective use and detailed structure of this model
Method Used
Lecturing is kept to the minimum necessary. A participative approach is used to enable learning by discovery, with experiential and collaborative exercises used to reinforce and embed the learning.
