The Challenges of Defining Value Add

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About This Podcast Episode: The Challenges of Defining Value Add

It’s simple: identify what’s valuable and do more of it.

But in practice, defining what truly adds value and what doesn’t, can be far from straightforward.

PMI Consultant Damion Albinson explores why defining “value add” is one of the trickiest yet most essential concepts in improvement. From legislative red tape to emotional resistance, he shares how well-intentioned tasks can cloud our view of what’s really worth doing.

Hear how to distinguish truly necessary work from disguised waste, why being comfortable with calling things “non-value add” reveals opportunity for real transformation, and how to navigate the emotional terrain of challenging long-held habits.

Ready to see value and waste with fresh eyes? Build the mindset and methods in our Agile Lean Six Sigma Green Belt course.

 

Episode Highlights – The Challenges of Defining Value Add

  • Understanding Value-Adding Activities (01:15)

Introducing the concept of value-adding versus non-value-adding activities and why it’s crucial for process improvement.

  • Avoiding Common Categorisation Mistakes (04:05)

Identifying common mistakes in categorising tasks and offering practical tips to avoid misclassification.

  • Overcoming Emotional Resistance to Change (06:37)

Addressing the emotional challenges that come with identifying and eliminating waste in processes.

  • Finding Opportunities by Recognising Waste (08:05)

Highlighting the significant opportunities for improvement by recognising and addressing waste in business processes.

  • Final Thoughts and Practical Advice (10:43)

Offering final advice on task categorisation and encouraging continuous identification of waste for improvement opportunities.

 

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