Pull Systems

Correct Answer: It reduces work in progress and optimizes flow by starting work based on capacity

The main benefit of implementing a Pull System in an agile team is that it reduces work in progress (WIP) and optimizes flow by starting work based on team capacity. This approach helps maintain sustainable pace and prevents overloading. Here's why the other options are incorrect: Maximizing resource utilization and keeping team members busy with multiple tasks actually creates inefficiencies through context switching and increased WIP, which leads to reduced productivity and quality. Pushing more work items through the system contradicts agile principles as it creates bottlenecks, reduces quality, and increases stress on the team. Maintaining a consistent workload distribution sounds appealing but misses the key point of pull systems - they are designed to be flexible and responsive to actual capacity, not to maintain an artificial consistency of workload.

Correct Answer: Downstream demand signals the upstream to release work

The fundamental principle of a Pull System is that work movement is triggered by downstream demand. When the downstream process requires work, it signals the upstream process to release work items. This approach ensures that work flows based on actual demand rather than pushing work through the system. This creates a more efficient flow and helps prevent overproduction and bottlenecks. The other options are incorrect because: - Pushing work based on production capacity leads to excess inventory and overproduction - Management schedules create artificial constraints and don't respond to real-time demand - Time-based milestones don't consider actual system capacity or demand, leading to potential overload or underutilization Pull systems are essential in Agile and Lean approaches as they help optimize flow, reduce waste, and ensure work moves based on actual capacity and demand.

Correct Answer: When there is available capacity and a signal from downstream

In a Pull System, work should start only when two key conditions are met: available capacity and a signal from downstream. This principle ensures that work flows smoothly and prevents overload by matching work to actual demand. The 'pull' comes from downstream demand, which triggers upstream work only when needed. The other options are incorrect because: - Starting work based on backlog items pushes work into the system regardless of capacity or demand - Starting work upon completion of current tasks still represents a push system if there's no downstream signal - Starting when upstream work is complete also represents a push system, as it may create bottlenecks downstream The correct approach respects both team capacity and system demand, maintaining flow and preventing work overload.