Guide: Understanding Lead and Cycle Time in Kanban Methodology

Understanding the concept of Lead and Cycle time in Kanban methodology is crucial when dealing with project management exams, especially in PMI-ACP.
What is it?
Lead Time is the span from the moment a task starts until its completion. Cycle Time, on the other hand, refers to the time it takes to complete a task once it is started. In other words, Lead Time includes both the wait time and the time spent actually working on the task.
Why is it important?
Measuring Lead and Cycle Times allows teams to assess their ability to consistently deliver value, which is a key factor in a successful Agile environment. It provides a quantitative measurement of efficiency, helps in calculating productivity, and aids project managers in predicting project completion times.
How does it work?
Let’s imagine a task that started on Day 1 and was handed over to the next team member on Day 3, who completed it on Day 5. The Lead Time is 5 days (from Day 1 to Day 5) while the cycle time is 3 days (from Day 3 to Day 5).
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Lead and Cycle Time
Exam questions on Lead and Cycle Time require understanding these concepts and the impact they have on productivity and project delivery. Here are some useful tips:
- Be sure of the difference between Lead Time and Cycle Time. Lead Time starts when the task is initiated whereas Cycle Time starts when the actual work on the task begins.
- Understand the method of their calculation and the meaning of the results.
- Be able to apply this understanding to real-life scenarios presented in the exam questions.
- In case of questions requiring calculation, don’t forget to accurately account for weekends or non-working days, if any is mentioned in the question.
This understanding and the ability to apply the concepts of Lead and Cycle Time are key to being effective in an Agile project management environment and crucial for passing the PMI-ACP exam.