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DevOps & Automation · Intermediate

Value Stream Mapping (VSM)

A Lean technique that visualizes every step, wait time, and handoff required to deliver a change from request to customer.

Definition

VSM identifies bottlenecks and waste by comparing process time with total lead time. DevOps teams use it to decide which delivery stages to automate or streamline first.

Example

Mapping reveals that code waits five days for a manual change advisory board approval while testing takes one hour.

Exam tip

VSM is used to find the constraint; the answer is usually to improve the biggest wait time, not the fastest step.

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