Batch Size refers to the amount of work processed in a single run of a process. In Lean and Agile contexts, it describes the number of requirements, work items, or features developed, tested, or delivered together. Small batch sizes are a cornerstone of fast feedback cycles, higher quality, and reduced risk.
Origin and Purpose
The concept originates from Lean Production and the Toyota Production System. In knowledge work, it was systematically described by Donald Reinertsen (The Principles of Product Development Flow).
In SAFe, batch size is one of the Flow Accelerators and a key element of the Continuous Delivery Pipeline, designed to increase the flow of value, reduce risks, and deliver customer value earlier.
Core Elements
- Small batches: Shorter cycle times, faster feedback, lower defect costs.
- Large batches: Longer cycle times, higher risks, more coordination overhead.
- Connection to WIP: Smaller batches make it easier to implement WIP limits.
- Feedback speed: The smaller the batch, the more frequent the learning cycles.
- Economic context: The optimal batch size depends on Cost of Delay and Flow Efficiency – economic trade-offs are essential.
Application and Best Practices
- Software development: Break features into small, testable stories to enable rapid feedback.
- SAFe PI Planning: Break down epics and capabilities into features and stories for incremental value flow.
- DevOps: Automated testing and continuous integration allow frequent, safe increments.
- Hardware development: Instead of building full prototypes, test components iteratively (“design-build-test cycles”).
- Risk management: Small batches lower the likelihood and cost of failure.
- Economic optimization: Batch sizes should balance throughput, cost, and customer value.
Practice Examples (patterns from practice)
- Software: Instead of a six-month release cycle, smaller increments are delivered every two weeks.
- Automotive: Driver assistance functions are validated component by component rather than as a full package.
- Banking: A new online banking feature is first released as a beta version to a limited customer group.
Criticism and Limitations
- Not universally applicable: Challenging in industries like construction or large-scale manufacturing.
- Overhead risk: Very small batches can create unnecessary administrative effort, especially with heavy testing or approval requirements.
- Technical prerequisites: Automation and stable processes are required for small batches to work effectively.
- Misconceptions: Batch size is often seen as a purely technical concept; in reality, it is a lever for business agility.
Embedding and Combination
- SAFe: Part of the Flow Accelerators and the Continuous Delivery Pipeline.
- Little’s Law: Smaller batches reduce cycle times if WIP is controlled.
- Theory of Constraints: Smaller batches help relieve bottlenecks and stabilize flow.
CALADE Perspective
In practice, we often see organizations plan work items that are too large, unnecessarily extending feedback cycles. CALADE helps clients right-size their batch sizes without creating inefficiencies – for example through increment slicing, coaching on WIP limits, and combining batch reduction with Living Transformation®, enabling teams to continuously optimize their processes.
Cross-References
- Flow Accelerator – Work in Smaller Batches
- Continuous Delivery Pipeline
- Little’s Law
- WIP (Work in Process)
- Theory of Constraints
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