Lean project management applies Lean principles — eliminate waste, optimize flow, respect people, continuously improve — to project delivery.
- The eight Lean wastes apply directly to PM: waiting, rework, over-processing, unused talent
- Value stream mapping makes project waste visible
- Lean Six Sigma combines Lean tools with Six Sigma statistical methods
The eight Lean wastes in delivery
In PM, the most common wastes are waiting (approval delays), rework (poor requirements), and over-processing (documentation nobody reads). Naming them makes them visible.
Value stream mapping
A value stream map traces a deliverable from request to delivery, marking where time is spent and value added. Most processes spend the majority of time waiting, not delivering.
Lean principles applied to PM
Eliminate approvals that delay without protecting quality. Reduce WIP by focusing on fewer initiatives. Build quality in rather than inspecting it out at the end.
Lean Six Sigma for PMs
Combines Lean waste reduction with the DMAIC improvement process. The Green Belt is the most practical Lean entry point for PMs.
Frequently asked questions
No. Lean focuses on waste elimination; Agile on adaptive iterative delivery. They are complementary.
Combines Lean waste elimination with Six Sigma's DMAIC statistical improvement.
The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt is the standard entry-level credential.
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