Value streams and process artifacts

Value streams represent the flow of work for a specific type of demand generated by a user or customer. For example, a value stream could start with a request to a restaurant hostess for an appetizer. The request is delivered to the kitchen, and the chef pulls the ingredients needed for the appetizer, prepares the dish, completes the preparation, and notifies the hostess that it is ready. The hostess delivers it to the table, and the customer consumes it. The value results from the customer getting satisfaction from consuming the appetizer. Value streams are a visual representation of what happens from the time a request or transaction is received until it is fulfilled by the service provider. Value stream mapping is an activity performed by the service provider organization to visualize the requests and transactions you support in delivering a product or service to your users and customers. A value stream map reflects the high-level (macro) steps...