Software Development
Lean Software Development
Definition
Lean Software Development is a translation of lean manufacturing principles and practices to the software development domain. It is an agile framework that focuses on optimizing the whole development process to deliver value, and eliminating waste.
Why It Matters
Lean thinking encourages teams to focus on delivering value to the customer as quickly as possible. It emphasizes learning, deferring decisions, and empowering the team to improve their own process.
Contextual Example
A team practicing Lean might use a Kanban board to visualize their workflow. They focus on reducing the "cycle time" – the time it takes for a task to go from "start" to "done" – by identifying and removing bottlenecks and other forms of waste.
Common Misunderstandings
- The seven principles of Lean are: Eliminate Waste, Amplify Learning, Decide as Late as Possible, Deliver as Fast as Possible, Empower the Team, Build Integrity In, and See the Whole.
- Kanban is a common method for implementing Lean principles.