Value Stream Mapping: How to Visualize Work and Align Leadership for Organizational Transformation

2Setting the Stage and Enabling Success

Too many organizations dive into value stream mapping before the organization is properly prepared and the activity has been properly scoped. Effective planning is a significant contributor in elevating value stream mapping from a “tool” to a management practice that has long-lasting transformational qualities.

Planning ranges from preparing the organization for the paradigm-challenging aspects of value stream mapping to scoping, team formation, and planning the logistics of who, what, when, and where. The planning stage represents the “P” in a macro-level PDSA (plan-do-study-adjust) cycle. As such, it warrants the time and attention to detail that makes for successful resolution of any problem, improvement, ...