Eliminate Waste is a concept derived from the Toyota Production System, which emphasizes on the efficient use of resources. In Lean Software Development, it focuses on identifying and removing anything that does not add value to the final product. This may include unnecessary features, redundant processes, and work that might be done in a more effective way. By reducing waste, teams can streamline their work and deliver better products to the customers in a shorter time. There are seven types of waste in software development: partially completed work, extra features, task-switching, waiting, motion, defects, and management activities.

Build Quality In refers to the practice of designing and developing the software in a way that ensures high quality from the beginning. Unlike traditional approaches that focus on fixing defects after the product is complete, Lean Software Development emphasizes on preventing defects during the development process. Teams can achieve this by following best practices, such as code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration. This concept helps in reducing the overall time and effort spent on fixing bugs, which leads to a faster and more efficient product delivery.

The Create Knowledge principle emphasizes the importance of continuous learning in Lean Software Development. It promotes the idea that the development process should not only result in a finished product but also contribute to the growth of the team's knowledge. Teams should encourage learning by sharing information, experimenting, and documenting their experiences. Continuous improvement is achieved when team members regularly reflect on their work and adapt based on feedback and new insights. This concept has the benefit of helping teams stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, ultimately resulting in better designed and more innovative products.

Defer Commitment is a concept that promotes making decisions as late as possible, in order to avoid premature commitments that may lead to rework or waste. In Lean Software Development, this idea translates to delaying decisions until more information is available and there is a clearer understanding of the requirements and constraints. This approach allows teams to consider multiple alternatives, adapt to changing circumstances, and minimize risks. By deferring commitment, teams can maintain flexibility, which ultimately results in reduced waste, increased efficiency, and improved product quality.

Optimize the Whole is a concept that encourages looking beyond individual tasks and focusing on the overall performance of the entire system or organization. In Lean Software Development, this means evaluating the development process from a holistic perspective, considering the interactions between different parts of the system and how they impact the final product. The goal is to optimize the value delivered to customers, rather than just optimizing individual tasks or features. This approach encourages collaboration and communication between team members, departments, and stakeholders, leading to more effective decision-making and a better understanding of the project goals, constraints, and desired outcomes.

Amplify Learning is a core concept of Lean Software Development that emphasizes the importance of continuously learning and adapting to changes. This concept encourages teams to gather feedback, experiment, and iterate on their work to make it better. In Agile Project Management, this means focusing on frequent delivery of small increments of functionality, evaluating the results, and then adjusting the process and software accordingly. The goal is to foster an environment where the team can learn from successes and failures, adapt to new technologies or methodologies, and continuously improve the software and project outcomes. The key aspects of Amplify Learning include embracing changing requirements, regular retrospectives, using spikes for exploration, and incorporating feedback from end users.

Empower the Team is a Lean Software Development principle that seeks to give team members the autonomy and authority to make decisions and solve problems. This concept is closely aligned with Agile Project Management, which focuses on self-organizing, cross-functional teams. In order to foster an empowered team, management should provide necessary resources, remove impediments and trust the team to deliver. By empowering team members, creativity and innovation are promoted leading to more efficient and effective solutions. Empowerment also fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among team members, which can result in increased motivation, commitment, and overall job satisfaction. This concept encompasses practices such as decentralized decision making, servant leadership, and collaborative estimation and planning.

Deliver Fast is a key Lean Software Development concept that focuses on reducing the time it takes to deliver a product or feature from concept to market. This principle aligns well with Agile Project Management methodologies, which prioritize frequent and rapid iterations of working software. By delivering fast, teams can quickly respond to changing customer needs, market conditions, and competitive pressures, driving increased value and reduced risk. Delivering fast requires streamlining the development process by minimizing handoffs, automating repetitive tasks, reducing batch sizes, and embracing a continuous integration and delivery mindset. Prioritizing work and establishing a steady, sustainable pace that maximizes productivity and quality are also critical aspects of delivering fast.

Respect People is an essential aspect of Lean Software Development that emphasizes treating team members, customers, and stakeholders with respect and dignity. This principle aligns with Agile Manifesto's everyone, facilitating collaboration and communication. Respectful relationships foster open communication, facilitate knowledge sharing, and enhance team cohesion, leading to better project outcomes. Respecting people involves actively listening to their opinions and ideas, providing support and recognition for their contributions, and creating an environment that nurtures professional growth and personal fulfillment. This concept includes practices such as giving and receiving feedback constructively, fostering an environment of trust, and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement.

Focus on Value is a Lean Software Development principle that centers on understanding and delivering what truly matters to customers and stakeholders. It is also a key emphasis in Agile Project Management methodologies. By concentrating on value, teams can prioritize features and tasks that directly contribute to the success of the project and deliver the maximum return on investment. Practices associated with focusing on value include engaging customers and stakeholders from the start, regularly reviewing priorities, maintaining a prioritized backlog, and working incrementally to deliver value as soon as possible. By continuously validating that the work being done is aligned with the desired outcomes, teams can ensure the greatest possible benefit is realized from their efforts.