Understanding the 8 Flow Accelerators

Your Guide to The Eight Flow Accelerators

No matter what we are working on, it is more important than ever to be able to deliver value to customers quickly and efficiently. This is where the eight flow accelerators come in. The eight flow accelerators are a set of practices that can be used to improve the flow of work through an organization, resulting in faster delivery of value, increased efficiency, and reduced stress.

The eight flow accelerators according to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) are:

1. Visualize and limit work-in-progress (WIP)
2. Address bottlenecks
3. Minimize handoffs and dependencies
4. Get faster feedback
5. Work in smaller batches
6. Reduce queue length
7. Optimize time "in the zone"
8. Remediate legacy policies and practices

Each of these flow accelerators can have a significant impact on the flow of work through an organization. By implementing these practices, organizations can improve their ability to deliver value to customers, increase their efficiency, and reduce stress.

Visualize and Limit Work-in-Progress (WIP)

The first flow accelerator is to visualize and limit work-in-progress (WIP). WIP is the amount of work that is currently in progress. When WIP is too high, it can lead to bottlenecks, delays, and increased stress. By visualizing WIP, teams can get a better understanding of how much work they have in progress and make better decisions about how to prioritize their work.

There are a number of ways to visualize WIP. One common way is to use a Kanban board. A Kanban board is a visual tool that helps teams track the progress of work through a series of steps. Each step on the board represents a different stage of the development process. As work moves through the process, it is moved to the next step on the board. This helps teams to see the big picture and identify any bottlenecks or delays.

In addition to visualizing WIP, it is also important to limit WIP. This means that teams should only work on a limited number of things at a time. This can be difficult to do, but it is important to remember that the more work that is in progress, the more likely it is that something will go wrong. By limiting WIP, teams can focus on completing the work that is most important and avoid getting bogged down in unnecessary tasks.

Address Bottlenecks

Another important flow accelerator is to address bottlenecks. Bottlenecks are any step in the process that slows down the flow of work. They can be caused by a number of factors, such as a lack of resources, a lack of skills, or a lack of coordination.

When bottlenecks are present, they can have a significant impact on the flow of work. They can lead to delays, increased stress, and decreased productivity. It is important to identify and address bottlenecks as quickly as possible.

There are a number of ways to address bottlenecks. One way is to add resources to the bottleneck step. This can help to increase the capacity of the step and reduce the amount of time that work spends in the bottleneck. Another way to address bottlenecks is to improve the process at the bottleneck step. This can involve simplifying the process, training the team, or automating the step.

Minimize Handoffs and Dependencies

Handoffs and dependencies are another common cause of bottlenecks. Handoffs occur when work is passed from one team or individual to another. Dependencies occur when work cannot be completed until another task is finished.

Handoffs and dependencies can slow down the flow of work in a number of ways. They can create communication delays, they can increase the risk of errors, and they can make it difficult to track the progress of work.

To minimize handoffs and dependencies, it is important to design processes that are as efficient as possible. This may involve breaking down large tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks. It may also involve creating cross-functional teams that can complete the entire process from start to finish.

Get Faster Feedback

Getting faster feedback is another important flow accelerator. Feedback is information about how well the work is progressing. It can come from customers, users, stakeholders, or other team members.

When feedback is slow, it can lead to problems. Teams may not be aware of problems until it is too late to fix them. This can lead to delays, increased costs, and decreased customer satisfaction.

To get faster feedback, it is important to create a feedback loop. This is a process for getting feedback from customers, users, stakeholders, or other team members and then using that feedback to improve the work.

There are a number of ways to create a feedback loop. One way is to use surveys or interviews. Another way is to create a user forum or feedback portal. It is also important to make it

Work in Smaller Batches

Working in smaller batches is another way to improve the flow of work. When work is done in large batches, it can lead to delays, increased risk of errors, and decreased productivity.

To work in smaller batches, it is important to break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks. This can help to ensure that work is completed more quickly and that there is less risk of errors.

It is also important to make sure that the work is done in a timely manner. This means that teams should not wait until the end of the sprint to start working on a task. Instead, they should start working on the task as soon as possible.

Reduce Queue Length

Queue length is the number of tasks that are waiting to be worked on. When queue length is too high, it can lead to delays, increased stress, and decreased productivity.

To reduce queue length, it is important to prioritize work and to make sure that teams are working on the most important tasks first. It is also important to make sure that teams have the resources they need to complete their work.

Optimize Time "In the Zone"

"In the zone" is a state of intense focus and concentration. When people are in the zone, they are able to work more efficiently and effectively.

To optimize time "in the zone", it is important to create an environment that is conducive to focus. This may involve reducing distractions, providing comfortable seating, and creating a quiet space to work. It is also important to avoid multitasking, as this can disrupt the flow of work.

Remediate Legacy Policies and Practices

Legacy policies and practices can often be a barrier to flow. These are policies and practices that were put in place in the past, but that may no longer be necessary or effective.

To remediate legacy policies and practices, it is important to review them regularly and to make sure that they are still relevant. If they are not, they should be updated or replaced.

Conclusion

The eight flow accelerators are a powerful set of practices that can be used to improve the flow of work through an organization. By implementing these practices, organizations can improve their ability to deliver value to customers, increase their efficiency, and reduce stress.

In addition to the eight flow accelerators, there are a number of other things that organizations can do to improve the flow of work. These include:

• Investing in training and development
• Creating a culture of continuous improvement
• Empowering teams to make decisions
• Providing the right tools and resources
• Measuring and tracking progress

By taking these steps, organizations can create a more efficient and effective environment for work. This will lead to faster delivery of value, increased customer satisfaction, and reduced costs.