Lean Systems Engineering

Correct Answer: Assess the value and feasibility of the requirement, present an impact analysis to stakeholders and revise the workflow efficiently.

According to lean systems engineering principles, the introduction of a new requirement in the middle of a project implies changes in the project's workflow which need to be managed effectively. The given scenario's best approach involves assessing the added requirement's value and feasibility. By doing so, it is possible to determine if accommodating the new requirement is worth the resources and effort required. Once assessed, it's important to conduct an impact analysis. This analysis helps identify how the new requirement will alter the current project's plan, and aids in presenting this change to the stakeholders clearly. The workflow should then be revised efficiently to incorporate the new requirement. This process helps ensure that the project continues smoothly without unnecessarily disrupting ongoing work. The other answers do not follow the principle of lean systems engineering, either by rejecting the change, requesting additional resources prematurely, or by implementing the change without proper evaluation.

Correct Answer: Investigate if the process can be streamlined to reduce redundancy while mitigating risks

The core principle of Lean Systems Engineering is to reduce waste and redundancy while not adding unnecessary risk. Therefore, the best approach in this situation is to 'Investigate if the process can be streamlined to reduce redundancy while mitigating risks'. This option takes into account both the need to decrease redundancy (a form of process waste) and ensure no unnecessary risk is added. 'Ignore the suggestion as any change can cause instability' is not correct because lean is about continuous improvement, and ignoring potential enhancements contradicts this principle. 'Remove the step immediately to achieve a lean workflow' is also not correct because it completely disregards the potential risk. Lean is about much more than removing non-value-added steps; it's about improving the whole system and not adding unnecessary risk 'Increase the team size to manage the risk' contradicts the lean philosophy because adding more people can complicate communication, increase overheads, and ultimately add more waste.

Correct Answer: Evaluate the impact of the new feature on the overall project timeline and prioritize accordingly

In a lean engineering project, the primary focus is on maximizing value while minimizing waste. This does not mean ignoring changes or new requirements, but rather handling them in a way that aligns with the project's overall goals and priorities. Therefore, the best approach when a high impact feature is requested would be to evaluate its impact on the overall project timeline and prioritize accordingly. This allows the new feature to be integrated in a way that adds value without disrupting the project's flow. Ignoring the request does not align with lean principles, which emphasize adaptability and continuous improvement. Adding the feature without consideration for other tasks could lead to unnecessary waste or disruption, and is therefore not a lean approach. Similarly, simply extending the project deadline to accommodate the feature does not take into consideration the need to minimize waste and maximize efficiency.