@amsa I am not sure why starting a SS deployment, regardless of business type. is such a mystery. Why do you want to do it? What is it in your business or business metrics that is telling you that you have a problem?
Sure you can go do a Value Stream Map and dive right into tools. What are you looking for? When you begin a deployment you have to be addressing the change management issue right from the beginning. That means you need to have a reason that you can communicate to the organization about why you are doing it. It used to be called a “Burning Platform” but executives began pushing back against the term – so it is what is the issue that is going causing you to do this so the organization will understand why you are doing what you are doing? Skip this step and you are half way to failure.
If you are doing because you were told to do it then you should clearly understand what I am saying. Someone told you to do it and you don’t know why. Depending on the size of your company if anyone wants to discuss tools before you take the time to develop a documented implementation plan it should be your first indication you are talking to someone who has no clue.
This is a quote from T Boone Pickens “A fool with a plan can outsmart a genius with no plan any day.”
Just my opinion.
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