HKSM
Flow Master
A team coach who facilitates service request flow in a Kanban or continuous flow system; essentially the Scrum Master for flow-based work.
Key Points
- Servant leader focused on smooth flow, removing blockers, and fostering continuous improvement.
- Guides visualization of work, setting and refining WIP limits, and using explicit process policies and classes of service.
- Teaches and uses flow metrics such as lead time, cycle time, throughput, and work item age to drive decisions.
- Collaborates with the Service Request Manager and stakeholders to balance demand with capacity and improve delivery predictability.
Example
A marketing operations team uses Kanban. The Flow Master notices growing queues before design review and rising work item age. They facilitate a discussion to lower WIP limits, add a triage step, and clarify pull policies. Over the next two sprints worth of time, lead time drops and throughput stabilizes.
PMP Example Question
In a Kanban team experiencing frequent blockers and rising work item age, who should coach the team to adjust WIP limits, refine pull policies, and facilitate daily flow reviews?
- Flow Master
- Product Owner
- Sponsor
- Functional Manager
Correct Answer: A — Flow Master
Explanation: The Flow Master serves as the team coach for Kanban, similar to a Scrum Master, and leads practices that improve flow and remove impediments.
