VSMF: VSM Fundamentals (VSMF) with Exam

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About this Course

Why is value stream mapping such an essential tool for modern IT? And what is a value stream anyway?

Value stream mapping is a Lean tool that has emerged as a critical capability for organizations striving to breakdown silos, minimize waste, shorten lead and cycle times and improve flow across the IT value chain.

Once thought of only in the context of manufacturing, organizations are seeing the benefits of applying value stream mapping to the activities associated with software design, development and delivery, service management, and office and administrative activities such as on boarding new customers or new employees.

A value stream is the sequence of activities required to design, produce and deliver a specific product or service.

Before an organization can optimize the flow of activities across a value stream, it must gain visibility into how value is created. Value stream mapping provides that visibility. Widely recognized as an invaluable tool in the DevOps and Agile communities, value streams also play an important role in the newly introduced ITIL 4.

Whenever there is customer demand there is a value stream. The challenge lies in seeing it.

“VSM Fundamentals gave me the tools to visualize where work gets stuck—and how to fix it. I left with clear steps to improve flow across teams. Thanks ITSM Academy, we will be back!”
— Leslie, Continuous Improvement Specialist

Value stream mapping typically occurs in a workshop setting, where a facilitator leads and coaches a cross-functional team of stakeholders through the value stream mapping methodology and in the use of continuous improvement tools and techniques. A well-executed value stream mapping workshop can be a game changer for organizations.  But what are the characteristics of a great  facilitator? And who needs to attend? And what goes on before, during and after a successful value stream mapping event?

Whether you want to learn about the mechanics of value stream mapping or how to plan and conduct Value Stream Mapping workshop (and how to avoid common pitfalls) this course is for you. 

This course describes how value stream mapping is different than other continuous improvement methods, and why and how it enables organizations to significantly improve and optimize performance. The course provides a brief introduction to basic Lean concepts and then takes a deep dive into value stream mapping. Learn about the anatomy of a value stream, how to build an ‘A’ team of stakeholders to map the value stream, and how to plan and lead a value stream transformation.

The course describes a step-by-step approach to preparing for and conducting a value stream mapping workshop; along with how to overcome common challenges, avoid common mistakes and produce meaningful / actionable deliverables.

Class includes a series of experiential exercises designed to allow attendees to build and practice needed skills and a toolkit of invaluable checklists and templates participants can use to put those skills to work.

Audience Profile

This training is designed to prepare attendees to arrange and/or conduct value stream mapping workshops, whether internally or for their customers. This class is for all professionals and organizations involved in improving the delivery of value to customers including:

  • Anyone involved in leading an IT transformation
  • Individuals who want to better understand how to use value stream mapping in conjunction with a continuous improvement effort
  • Anyone who wants to understand when to use value streams mapping (vs. when to focus on process improvement)
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to conduct a value stream mapping workshop
  • Value stream owners, managers and champions
  • Quality, process and continual improvement professionals including consultants, process and practice owners and managers, service management office (SMO) members
  • Line managers, team leaders and supervisors who want to improve cross-functional collaboration

At Course Completion

At the end of the course, VSMF attendees will be able to map, analyze, and optimize value streams to identify waste, improve flow, and drive continuous improvement across business and IT operations.

Outline

Attendees acquire an understanding of:

  • Basic Lean concepts
  • Basic value stream concepts
  • The elements and parts of a value stream map
  • The value stream mapping process
  • Value stream mapping roles and activities
  • Planning a value stream mapping workshop
  • Data collection and analysis and techniques
  • Conducting a workshop
  • Producing workshop deliverables
  • Building a transformation plan
  • How to achieve the desired future state

     Click this image 📥 at the bottom of the black box to download pdf.

Course Includes:

  • Access to ITSM Academy's Learner Portal – my.itsmacademy.com – extends the classroom experience with online content and tools
    • Digital Learner Manual (excellent post-class reference)
    • Research Paper - WhatIs? Value Stream Mapping
    • Learner Personal Action Plan
    • Sample documents, templates tools and techniques
    • Access to additional sources of information and communities
  • Sixteen (16) hours of instructor-led training and exercise facilitation
  • Participation in unique assignments designed to apply concepts
  • Exam voucher

Prerequisites

None