Water-meter replacement tickets keep piling in In Progress with no WIP limit. What should the SM/TC introduce first?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Unlimited In Progress is a kitchen with every burner on and nothing plated. WIP limits make the overload a policy, not a surprise. Stopping the pile is how meter work starts finishing.
Full Explanation
Unlimited In Progress on a service board needs explicit WIP limits on the in-progress states so overload becomes a policy the team must manage. Unlimited In Progress is a kitchen with every burner on and nothing plated. Limits make overload discussable instead of a silent habit that delays citizen outcomes.
A mandatory overtime roster so In Progress can keep growing fails because overtime papers over the policy failure and burns people. A second In Progress column so the pile looks smaller fails because splitting columns without limits is cosmetic, not control. Story-point inflation so unfinished tickets still count as velocity fails because metric games hide unfinished civic work.
Exam caveat: WIP limits are policies that force trade-offs; they are not suggestions to ignore when busy. Operational check: set numeric limits on active states, stop starting new work when limits are hit, discuss swarming or shedding before raising limits, and watch whether finish rates and cycle times improve for residents. WIP discipline is how public servants protect quality and sanity when demand spikes after storms, hearings, or filing deadlines. WIP discipline is how public servants protect quality and sanity when demand spikes after storms, hearings, or filing deadlines.