Lean from the Trenches

Example 1: Long Release Cycle

Let’s say our problem is that we always miss deadlines. More specifically, our releases always occur at a later date than planned.

A problem is a problem only if it conflicts with your goal. So, start by defining your goal, and think about the consequences of this problem in terms of your goal. This can be done by asking a series of “so what?” questions until you identify the visible damage.

Let’s say our goal is to delight our customers and maximize our revenue. Our dialogue might sound something like this:

Lisa:

Who cares if the releases are delayed? What’s the consequence?

Jim:

Delays make our release cycles ...