• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

JD Meier

Inspiring the world with innovation!

  • About
  • Latest
  • Articles
  • Books
  • Courses
  • Topics
    • Innovation
    • Strategy
    • High-Performance
    • Digital Transformation
    • Agile
    • All Topics
  • Resources
  • Coaching
  • Contact

Don’t Let the Big Get in the Way of the Small

by JD Meier

image

Sometimes the big gets in the way of the small. 

While it’s great to package up value into a bigger set, sometimes this blocks flowing smaller value as you go. 

For example, maybe you have a big idea that blocks your little ideas. 

Or maybe you have a product that packages up a lot of value, but you can’t ship it until it’s all done. 

In either case, it blocks the flow of value. 

The Big in the Way of the Small

Here’s a simple visual that shows all the work in progress that piles up while waiting until it’s all done and ready to go as a monolith:

image

In the above, imagine that all the little chunks of value are being treated collectively as one big chunk of value – and it’s not done until it’s all done.

The Small Flows the Value

Here’s a visual that shows the small flowing value.  Each little chunk of value is completed and made available:

image

From a metaphor standpoint, this might be like your waiter bringing out food as it’s ready instead of waiting until it’s all ready then bringing everything out at once.

Find a Way to Flow Value

Early in my book-building career, my manager put a lot of pressure on me to find a way to flow value. 

He didn’t like the fact that while the team worked on a Blue Book or guide, there was nothing available along the way. 

We found a way to make our smaller guidance nuggets available along the way (How Tos, Checklists, Guidelines … etc.) as part of a community knowledge base before our final release as a full guide. 

What I’ve found is that flowing value helps test your results and get real customer feedback along the way. 

Additionally, internally it helps show stakeholders that you’re producing results and making impact.   This is often a key to continued funding and support.

Category: Agile, Process

About JD Meier

I help leaders change the world.

Previous Post:Kanban for Process Improvement
Next Post:Kanban for Personal Productivity

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

About Me

JD I am J.D. Meier. I help leaders change the world. Learn more...

Popular Articles

10 Things Great Managers Do
40 Hour Work Week at Microsoft
Best Digital Transformation Books
How To Become an Innovator
How To Drive Digital Transformation
How To Lead High-Performance Teams
Innovation Explained
Satya Nadella Quotes
View More...

Become a better leader, innovate better, and achieve greater impact!

I help leaders change the world   As part of your journey, learn how to realize your potential in work and life through the power of creativity, imagination and creative vision. 

Topics

  • Innovation
  • Agile
  • Strategy
  • Leadership
  • Digital Transformation
  • High Performance

Copyright © 2023 · JD Meier · All Rights Reserved