The 7 Software Development Wastes - Lean series Part 5 - Motion

August 15, 2009 by Jack Milunsky

Introduction

Previous posts on software development wastes can be found here: In-Process Inventory/Partially done work , Over Production/Extra Features , Extra Processing and Transportation

I must apologize to you all for the lag in this series. But being August, I was away on vacation. Interestingly, getting back is hard. You have to get back into the swing of things again to get up to maximum productivity. There's quite a bit of re-acquainting and relearning so there's waste for sure. However, I do feel I have more energy now since I am back so perhaps the waste is negated over time.

Motion - Task Switching

Waste #5 in manufacturing is defined as Motion. And motion can be compared to "task switching" in Software Development - as defined by the thought leaders applying Lean thinking to software development.

Task switching can be a big time waster. Studies have shown that if you're working on anything beyond two seperate and distinct tasks, your efficiency goes down drastically the more tasks you take on. The reason is quite obvious; working on software development tasks takes a lot of thought processing and task switching requires that your mind switch contexts all the time. Each time that you switch contexts, there's relearning and re-acquainting that needs to take place.

Additionally, if you are working on multiple tasks simultaneously, it's going to take you longer to complete the first and each successive tasks. If you storm the first task and get that out, you are delivering value to the customer much sooner.

It's important to be mindful of this. I have found in many organizations, especially software companies where there is a real casual atmosphere, it's easy to always interrupt developers. Interruptions are prevalent with requests. All this interruption only serves to add to the Motion bucket of waste. This is where the importance of a Product Owner, ScrumMaster and Backlog come in. These roles and any artifact are there to buffer the development teams from the noise and chaos outside of the current sprint activities.

If you're a good tough ScrumMaster, you'll see to it that priorities are all driven through the backlog and the Scrum process and that your teams are left to focus on distinct activities for maximum throughput and reduced overall cycle time in development.

Next week I will cover the 5th waste in the series - Waiting.

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About the Author: As COO and Scrum Master, Jack Milunsky heads software development at Brightspark. Jack is an early adopter of Scrum and has a great passion for early stage startups. Jack is co-creator of Agilebuddy, a next generation Scrum Application SaaS. Jack combines over 18 years of experience managing software development teams both large and small. You can follow Jack for great tips on Agile at http://twitter.com/agilebuddy

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Comments

5th Waste : Motion

August 21, 2009 by Manas (not verified), 3 years 39 weeks ago
Comment id: 3010

hi Jack Milunsky,

You write ups on the various waste of Lean Development in case Software Development is very useful. The co-relation between the manufacturing and software industry is quite helpful.
I have question wrt "Motion Waste" , here you have mention that one should take up a single task at a time rather than taking multiple task .. don't you think we are not taking advantage of multi tasking. I believe in software developments lots of task are designed/ planned to take the advantage of multi tasking. If that is the case do we need to do a trade of Multi tasking Vs Motion Waste.

Regards,
Manas
manas03@rediffmail.com

Multi tasking

August 21, 2009 by jackMilunsky, 3 years 39 weeks ago
Comment id: 3011

I have to find you the resource. But don't have it with me. Humans don't multi-task very well. And studies have shown this to be the case. Anything over two simultaneous tasks show a significant drop in productivity.

Every time you switch context, you have to re-acquaint and that wastes time.

I'll try to remember to get you the study

Jack

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August 24, 2009 by James (not verified), 3 years 38 weeks ago
Comment id: 3052

I had a companion from Canada last year and he had a great time. A few days work is available too

Good to see affinity to manufacturing stressed

August 24, 2009 by dkappe (not verified), 3 years 38 weeks ago
Comment id: 3060

There's too many posts out there that draw analogies between software development and the construction industry. It's good to see Lean and the manufacturing folks represented here.

hi Jack, Thanks for the

August 25, 2009 by Manas (not verified), 3 years 38 weeks ago
Comment id: 3074

hi Jack,

Thanks for the comments.
Very recently in the Software development has witness a new phenomenon where ' a smart set of people' take care of multiple product development activities simultaneously. I have seen in mostly with the product development organization and more specifically occur for the products which are in the 'sustaining mode'.Another factor for such setup is also 'Cost Factor'. Is this a smart move or we need to find another way for such development with respect to context switching. Can you please put your thoughts into it.

Regards,
-Manas

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