The value stream is the set of actions that take place to add value to a customer from the initial request to delivery. The value stream begins with the initial concept, moves through various stages for one or more development teams (where Agile methods begin), and on through final delivery and support.
Value streams are what they are, you don’t specify them. There are several ways to change them, however, including changing:
- what goes into them
- how people collaborate
- the order of the work (e.g., test-first)
- how teams are organized, the size of the work done
- the amount of work being done by the people in the value stream
The idea is to remove handoffs, delays and handbacks in the value stream. Doing so will lower cycle times and increase process cycle efficiency resulting in quicker time to market and realization of value.