Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Lean Portfolio Management Practice Exam

What is one role of value streams in a Lean Portfolio Management framework?

1. To minimize costs

2. To enhance collaboration across teams

3. To document legacy systems

4. To define organizational hierarchies

The correct answer is: To enhance collaboration across teams

In the Lean Portfolio Management framework, value streams play a crucial role in enhancing collaboration across teams. Value streams represent the sequence of activities that an organization undertakes to deliver value to its customers. By mapping these activities, organizations can visualize how work flows through different teams and departments, fostering a shared understanding of processes and dependencies. This visibility helps identify areas where collaboration can be improved, ultimately leading to more efficient and effective delivery of products and services. When teams understand how their efforts contribute to the overall value stream, they are more likely to work together, share knowledge, and coordinate their efforts, thus breaking down silos that can exist in traditional organizational structures. Enhancing collaboration through the lens of value streams also encourages feedback loops, alignment on goals, and a more cohesive approach to meeting customer needs, all of which are integral to the principles of Lean and Agile methodologies.