Analyze the source and nature of demand and current delivery capacity

This is a series of posts from the main topic STATIK (Systems Thinking Approach to Introduce Kanban) wich it’s an exploratory and collaborative approach to implement Kanban. It helps to understand the current demand and dynamics, to design and implement a Kanban work model that allows increasing the efficiency and quality of the service through the culture and techniques of continuous improvement.

Statik Steps

As an iterative approach, STATIK suggests you go through the following steps.

For each identified service:

1. Understand what makes the business fit for purpose
2. Understand sources of dissatisfaction
3. Analyze the source and nature of demand
4. Analyze current delivery capability
5. Model the service delivery workflow
6. Identify and define classes of service
7. Design the Kanban system
8. Socialize design & negotiate implementation

Analyzing demand and delivery capability

Before we analyze demand and delivery capabilities, we need to identify the work item types. Then we can analyze for each item type, how much we’re demanded of this type of work and how much we can serve or deliver. So we can identify what’s happening in our processes by visualizing work and creating metrics.

IDENTIFYING WORK ITEM TYPES

First, remember all the services that the team provides to other parties.

The team identifies any type of service no matter they’re related or not.

Work Item Types — essentially a service a team provides that is requested by another party.

Then, group similar items into no more than seven groups. Give each group a (short) name that summarizes the service provided

The group names are our work item types.

Optionally, each team member writes their name on post-its and attach them to the groups with which they’re involved.

This activity can be useful in understanding the level of specialization inside a team

ANALYZING DEMAND AND DELIVERY CAPABILITY

Now is time to look at each work item type and identify its patterns of arrival and delivery, as well as other useful information.

Analyzed demand and delivery for each identified work item type

This analysis is not pretending to accurately measure demand and delivery capabilities but to everybody understand the nature of their work and drive further conversations in order to improve their work.

Source of demand + Delivery capability activities outcomes.

Next STATIK’s step is Model the service delivery workflow. Or review the previous step, Understand sources of dissatisfaction.