Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and Leadership

Flow Engineering in Action: Insights from Authors Steve Pereira and Andrew Davis

Aug 7, 2024

In a captivating discussion, Steve Pereira, a workflow expert with over two decades of experience, and Andrew Davis, a former Buddhist monk turned product leader, dive into flow engineering principles. They emphasize the importance of psychological safety for effective collaboration and continuous improvement. The duo shares insights from their writing journey, balancing structured processes with innovation flexibility. They also explore the significance of accepting imperfections, inspiring a healthier workplace culture that embraces creativity and learning.

59:09

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Episode guests

Andrew Davis

Steve Pereira

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Flow engineering optimizes workflows through value stream mapping, enhancing efficiency by identifying bottlenecks for improvement.

Psychological safety fosters open communication within teams, allowing members to share insights and address workflow challenges effectively.

The authors' diverse experiences inform their perspectives on collaboration and adaptability in implementing effective organizational processes.

Deep dives

Principles of Flow Engineering

Flow engineering focuses on optimizing workflows to improve efficiency and deliver greater value in organizations. It emphasizes the use of value stream mapping as a critical tool to visualize and analyze existing processes, identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement. By understanding the flow of work, organizations can create a more streamlined approach that enhances collaboration among teams. The insights presented by the authors highlight the need for organizations to adopt a holistic perspective, considering the interconnectedness of various components in their workflows.

Intro

2min

Exploring Flow Engineering and Personal Transformation

2min

Embracing Imperfection in Learning

7min

Navigating Collaboration and Psychological Safety

31min

Navigating Imperfections: Psychological Safety in Systems

5min

The Art of Collaborative Writing

10min

Bridging Lean Principles and Technology in Collaborative Environments

2min

My guests for Episode #512 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast are Steve Pereira and Andrew Davis, authors of the new book Flow Engineering: From Value Stream Mapping to Effective Action.

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Steve Pereira has spent over two decades improving workflow across various organizations. His experience spans tech support, IT management, platform and infrastructure engineering, product management, and serving as a founding CTO for an enterprise SaaS company. Currently, he is the CEO of Visible Consulting, COO of the Value Stream Management Consortium, and co-founder of the Flow Collective.

Andrew Davis is the Chief Product Officer at AutoRABIT and the author of "Mastering Salesforce DevOps." With a background as a Salesforce architect, developer, and product leader, Andrew focuses on the human side of software development. He spent 15 years as a Buddhist monk, teaching meditation and personal transformation, and now studies the intersection of business, technology, and psychology through systems thinking.

In this episode, we discuss the principles of flow engineering, the importance of psychological safety in process improvement, and their experiences in writing the book. We also dive into their personal journeys, inspirations from industry giants like Deming and Goldratt, and the challenges and lessons learned in collaborative work. Stay tuned for a deep, insightful conversation on enhancing workflows and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Questions, Notes, and Highlights:

Can you discuss the relationship between making mistakes and learning from a Buddhist perspective, Andrew?
Why do you resonate with figures like Deming, Goldratt, and Ackoff in your improvement work, Steve?
How did you two end up collaborating on the book?
Did you apply flow engineering concepts to the development and writing of the book together?
How did the process of writing the book evolve over time?
What lessons did you learn about collaboration and flow from writing this book?
How does psychological safety impact value stream mapping and flow engineering?
How do you involve workers in process design to avoid negative perceptions of imposed processes?
What challenges did you face in maintaining a regular cadence of work while writing the book?

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

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