(Select 4) What are the 4 primary reasons why long queues are bad.

The correct answer is A. Higher variability B. Decreased motivation E. Slower delivery F. Lower quality. Long queues are bad primarily because they slow delivery (E) - work sitting in a backlog directly increases cycle time (Little's Law: cycle time rises with WIP). That wait also increases variability (A) - the longer items sit, the more conditions change, requirements drift, and…

Lean-Agile Mindset and Flow

Question

Options

AHigher variability
BDecreased motivation
CLess cross-training
DMore multitasking
ESlower delivery
FLower quality

How the community answered

(31 responses)

A
87% (27)
C
10% (3)
D
3% (1)

Explanation

Long queues are bad primarily because they slow delivery (E) - work sitting in a backlog directly increases cycle time (Little's Law: cycle time rises with WIP). That wait also increases variability (A) - the longer items sit, the more conditions change, requirements drift, and outcomes become unpredictable. Aged work lowers quality (F) because context fades, defects accumulate, and rework increases. Finally, watching a bloated backlog grow with no visible progress decreases motivation (B) for the people doing the work.

Why C and D are wrong: "Less cross-training" (C) is a symptom of siloed team structure, not of queue length itself. "More multitasking" (D) is a cause of long queues - it's what you do when queues back up - not a consequence of having them.

Memory tip: Use the acronym VQMS - Variability, Quality, Motivation, Speed - or think "long lines make people Very Quite Miserable and Slow."

Topics

#queue management#lean flow#variability#WIP

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