Understand where the Value Streams Inventory sits in the IF4IT Enterprise Inventory Management Noun Type Taxonomy

The Value Streams Inventory is one of the recognized Noun Types in the IF4IT Enterprise Inventory Management taxonomy — the master catalog of all enterprise inventory types. The full taxonomy, its governance principles, and the Inventory of Inventories are documented in the IF4IT Enterprise Inventory Management Best Practices document.

Within the taxonomy, the Value Stream is the Noun Type that represents end-to-end value delivery. Its most directly related Noun Types are: Capability — a value stream is enabled by Capabilities; refer to the Capabilities Inventory and Attributes. Application — applications support the stages of a value stream; refer to the Applications Inventory and Attributes. Process — processes operationalize value streams; the Processes Inventory is not yet published. Organizational Unit — organizational units own and operate value stream stages; the Organizational Units Inventory is not yet published. Vendor — vendors participate in value stream delivery; refer to the Vendors Inventory and Attributes. Data and Information Type — value streams consume and produce data; refer to the Data and Information Inventory and Attributes. Regulatory Obligation — regulatory obligations bind value streams; the Regulatory Obligations Inventory is not yet published. Value Stream Stage — the anticipated Noun Type into which enterprises break out value stream stages when they need to govern them as first-class entities.

The Value Stream Noun Type is not the same as a Process, a Capability, or an Organizational Unit. A Process describes how work is carried out. A Capability describes a standing ability. An Organizational Unit is a part of the enterprise structure. A Value Stream is the end-to-end flow of value itself — the orchestration of capabilities, realized through processes, operated by organizational units, that delivers a specific outcome to a specific stakeholder.