Making IT Lean: Applying Lean Practices to the Work of IT

Description

Making IT Lean: Applying Lean Practices to the Work of IT presents Lean concepts and techniques for improving processes and eliminating waste in IT operations and IT Service Management, in a manner that is easy to understand. The authors provide a context for discussing several areas of application within this domain, allowing you to quickly gain insight into IT processes and Lean principles.... Read more

Making IT Lean: Applying Lean Practices to the Work of IT presents Lean concepts and techniques for improving processes and eliminating waste in IT operations and IT Service Management, in a manner that is easy to understand. The authors provide a context for discussing several areas of application within this domain, allowing you to quickly gain insight into IT processes and Lean principles.

The text reviews IT Service Management, with reference to the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL^®) as a framework for best practices—explaining how to use it to accommodate Lean processes and operations. Filled with straightforward examples, it provides enough modeling tools so you can start your Lean journey right away. Examining the work of IT from an IT practitioner perspective, the book includes coverage of:

The OM Perspective—considers the work of IT from an Operations Management (OM) perspective, showing how many of the concepts that have been successfully applied within manufacturing can be applied to IT
The Lean Improvement Model—explains Lean concepts and practices and details the authors’ Lean improvement model
Lean Problem-Solving (Identifying and Understanding Problems)—considers operational work in IT and explains how to apply Lean practices related to problem identification and root cause analysis
Lean Problem-Solving (Identifying and Managing Solutions)—describes how to use good problem identification as the basis for identifying the right solutions
Lean IT Service Management—examines IT work from an IT Service Management perspective, using the ITIL^® framework as a guide
Implementing and Sustaining Lean IT Improvements—explains how to implement and sustain Lean IT improvements

Throughout the book, the authors use a simple model for Lean Improvement as the framework for communicating practical guidance on identifying and understanding problems, as well as identifying, implementing, managing, and improving solutions. Emphasizing alignment with core Lean concepts, such as A3 Thinking and Plan Do Check Act, it introduces concepts in a manner that allows you to take away small bits at a time and immediately apply them in your IT operations. Exploring the notion that any IT organization can benefit from the application of Lean, the text supplies you with virtually limitless opportunities for improvement in your IT organization.

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The OM Perspective
Process Types
Process Types in IT Work
Customer Contact Workflow Model
Workflow Concepts
     Volume, Variety, and Variation
     Concepts of Flow
     Waiting in Line
     Capacity
     Looking at the IT Factory
Process Analysis
Process Improvement
Quality Improvement
Summary
References

The Lean Improvement Model
Lean Thinking
     Customer Value
     Value Stream Flow
     Elimination of Waste
     Continuous Improvement
Lean Learning
     A3 Thinking
     Plan–Do–Check–Act
Lean Problem-Solving
Lean Tools
Lean Enablers
Summary
Appendix: Examples of Waste in IT Work
References

Lean Problem-Solving: Identifying and Understanding Problems
Identifying Waste
Stumbling on Waste from Pain Points
     Tool: Process Mapping
     Tool: Swim-Lane Diagram
     Tool: RACI Chart
     More on Process Mapping
     Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
     Tool: Cause and Effect Diagram
Identifying Waste in Clearly Identified Workflows
     Tool: Value Stream Map
     Tool: 5 Whys
     Tool: Pareto Chart
Clarifying Difficult-to-Identify Workflows
     Tool: Go-and-See (Gemba)
Surfacing Waste and Exposing Problems
     Tool: Removal of Work-in-Progress (WIP)
     Tool: 5S
          Sort
          Straighten
          Shine
          Standardize
          Sustain
     Tool: Visual Management
     Tool: A3 Reports
Summary
References

Lean Problem-Solving: Identifying and Managing Solutions
Starting with Root Causes
Identifying Solutions
     Tool: Brainstorming
Planning, Implementing, and Improving Solutions
Tool: PDCA
     Tool: Checklists
     Tool: Mistake Proofing
Creating Flow
     Tool: Pull (versus Push)
     Tool: One-Piece Flow (versus Batch)
     Tool: Rapid Changeover
     Tool: Work Cell Optimization
Automation of IT Operations
Improving Nonlinear Processes
Continuous Improvement
     Kaizen
     Tool: Rapid Improvement Events
Summary
References

Lean IT Service Management
IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
Incident Management
Problem Management
Service Request Fulfillment
Service Desk
     External View of the Service Desk
     Internal View of the Service Desk
     Lean Service Desk
Applying Lean to Other ITSM Processes
     Availability Management
     Event Management
     Change Management
Implementing Lean ITSM
Summary
References

Implementing and Sustaining Lean IT Improvements
Continuous Improvement
     Rapid Improvement Events
Lean Enablers
     Dealing with Obstacles
     Tool: 5 Questions
Lean Culture
Metrics and Measurement
Lean IT at Work
     Lean IT in a Healthcare Company
     Lean IT at a Health Insurance Company
     Lean IT in a Hospital
Summary
References

Looking at Lean IT
Future Drivers of IT Work
The Role of Lean
References

Index