Value stream mapping

This diagram illustrates the scope of software development and how much of this is often left out in Agile methods. In looking at the diagram we can see that it starts with the inception of an idea that will help the customer. It may be that the customer does not get the idea, but the intended value is focused on the customer. At some point the business discusses this and decides on a set of capabilities that will be built. The development team takes on the project, builds it and delivers it to the customer to be consumed. Management’s role, which is all too often ignored in the Agile space, has the important role of ensuring the work taking place in the value stream is not be impeded.