PMI-ACP Practice Questions #40
Your team is working on improving the efficiency of a process that spans multiple departments. To identify delays, redundancies, and non-value-added activities, you decide to use a tool that visualizes the flow of materials and information required to deliver a product or service. Which of the following best describes the steps you should take using Value Stream Mapping?
A. Identify bottlenecks, apply WIP limits, and prioritize tasks by business value.
B. Define product requirements, develop iterations, and hold regular retrospectives for feedback.
C. Create user stories, prioritize a backlog, and incrementally deliver value in sprints.
D. Map the current process, identify waste, and design a future state to improve efficiency.
Analysis
The question describes a scenario where the team is focusing on process improvement across multiple departments by identifying inefficiencies such as delays, redundancies, and non-value-added activities. The best approach for this situation is Value Stream Mapping (VSM), a Lean technique used to visualize the entire flow of work, identify waste, and improve overall efficiency. The correct answer should align with the core steps of Value Stream Mapping, which involve mapping the current state, identifying inefficiencies, and designing an improved future state.
Analysis of Options
A: Identify bottlenecks, apply WIP limits, and prioritize tasks by business value.
While identifying bottlenecks is a relevant activity, applying Work In Progress (WIP) limits and prioritizing tasks based on business value aligns more with Kanban and Lean rather than Value Stream Mapping. VSM focuses on visualizing and optimizing an end-to-end process rather than just limiting workflow.
B: Define product requirements, develop iterations, and hold regular retrospectives for feedback.
This approach aligns more with Scrum and iterative development rather than Value Stream Mapping. VSM is about analyzing an existing process for efficiency, not about defining product requirements or conducting iterations.
C: Create user stories, prioritize a backlog, and incrementally deliver value in sprints.
This approach is specific to Scrum and Agile development methodologies. While backlog prioritization and incremental delivery are essential in Agile, they do not form part of Value Stream Mapping, which focuses on process optimization rather than feature development.
D: Map the current process, identify waste, and design a future state to improve efficiency.
This correctly follows the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) process. It involves mapping the current state, identifying inefficiencies (waste, delays, redundancies), and redesigning the process to achieve a more optimized and streamlined workflow. These steps are fundamental to Lean process improvement and match the intent of the question.
Conclusion
The correct answer is Option D: Map the current process, identify waste, and design a future state to improve efficiency, as it directly aligns with the principles and steps of Value Stream Mapping (VSM), ensuring the team effectively optimizes the process.
PMI – ACP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
| Mindset | Embrace Agile Mindset |
Topics Covered:
- Value Stream Mapping (VSM): Visualizing end-to-end workflow to identify inefficiencies.
- Process Optimization: Mapping the current state, identifying waste, and designing improvements.
- Lean Thinking: Reducing non-value-added activities to improve flow efficiency.
- Identifying Waste: Recognizing delays, redundancies, and inefficiencies in cross-department processes.
- Future State Design: Creating an optimized workflow to enhance overall system performance.
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