If a process is written in a thick, multi-page document, the chances are no one would read that and the creator will not receive any feedback. Like any other mapping tool, the strength of SIPOC lies in its visualisation and simplicity. However, as I previously suggested, there is nothing wrong in having another tool in your toolbox. Since VSM is a Lean concept, it is used more often by Agile teams than other concepts. This may also appear like a drawback of SIPOC that it talks about the customer last.Īnother concept that is quite close to SIPOC is Value Stream Mapping (VSM). Without thinking in terms of suppliers, their inputs to a process, the steps of your process, the outputs that your customers may get, you might miss important details.Ī key difference between SIPOC and Journey mapping is that a journey map focuses entirely on a customer’s experience, while a SIPOC focuses on an end to end process. SIPOC compels you to think through the whole journey of a product or a process, beginning from a supplier to the customer. SIPOC is like a customer journey map because both define a process while keeping the customer in mind. You can also use it for process improvement activities (continuous improvement must be an ongoing goal for you). These are the heuristics that guide us for defining a process at the commencement of a project or an initiative. The letters stand for: Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers. Sipoc is a process mapping and definition tool. ( Excerpt in italics taken from the book introduction on ).īy learning tools and techniques outside from our own craft, and sometimes outside from our profession, we learn more about ourselves. The author, “ David Epstein shows that the way to excel is by sampling widely, gaining a breadth of experiences, taking detours, experimenting relentlessly, juggling many interests – in other words, by developing range”. If you haven’t yet, then I strongly recommend that you read “ Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World“. You can also use it early in the project to create alignment among your team and stakeholders.Īnother important thing to remember is that we can learn tremendously from other disciplines. For example, finding a right starting point for a new initiative can be hard for many delivery leaders and we could use SIPOC for that purpose. As good Agile delivery leaders we want to have more than one tool in our toolbox and this might be one of those tools. Let’s not get into the debate of what is and what isn’t. “But Lean Six Sigma isn’t Agile!”, You may exclaim. SIPOC traditionally has been used in Lean Six Sigma process improvement projects. There are many process mapping tools available and SIPOC is one of them that delivery leaders can use for their Agile initiatives.
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