January 29, 2025
Author: Lance Knight
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Key Takeaways
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I believe the future of Value Stream Management (VSM) will be powered by AI. Through my extensive experience with VSM, I've come to understand how fundamentally AI will reshape value delivery across organizations. While these technologies haven't been widely implemented yet, I am captivated by how this convergence will revolutionize our industry.
Concrete examples of AI’s impact
Let me share how I see this transformation unfolding through several concrete examples.
Software deployment
In software deployments, releases that are currently being managed through complex manual processes will be orchestrated automatically by AI. A deployment that would normally require multiple teams, numerous approval gates, and careful timing will be transformed. I envision AI systems that will be monitoring production metrics, identifying the optimal deployment windows, running expanded test suites automatically, and orchestrating rollouts across different regions and user segments. When issues are detected, rollbacks will be initiated automatically before users are affected.
Feature development
In feature development, requirements that are traditionally written and refined manually will be enhanced through AI analysis. As product owners describe new features, AI will automatically analyze similar features across the industry, identify potential edge cases, and generate comprehensive acceptance criteria. Test scenarios will be created automatically, pulling from patterns observed in production usage. I see this dramatically reducing the time between idea conception and requirement validation.
Incident management
Consider how incident management will be transformed: When a production issue occurs, instead of the current process where alerts must be manually triaged and routed, AI will analyze the full context automatically. Error patterns will be correlated across services, probable root causes will be identified, and the most qualified engineers will be engaged—all before a human first looks at the incident. I believe this will reduce mean time to resolution from hours to minutes.
Security
In the security domain, I also see the process being revolutionized. When vulnerabilities are detected, AI won't just identify affected code—it will understand the business impact. By analyzing the value stream, systems with sensitive data or customer-facing services will be prioritized automatically. Fixes will be generated with consideration for each system's unique requirements and constraints. I envision this process happening so quickly that vulnerabilities will often be patched before they can be exploited.
Governance and compliance
The governance and compliance aspects of software delivery will be similarly transformed. Rather than periodic audits and manual reviews, I see AI systems continuously monitoring the entire value stream for compliance violations. When issues are detected, remediation will be initiated automatically, with changes being made in accordance with established compliance patterns. Documentation will be generated automatically, creating a continuous audit trail that demonstrates compliance in real time.
The evolving role humans will play
Through these examples, I see how the role of humans in the value stream will evolve. Rather than being caught up in manual processes and repetitive tasks, teams’ roles will be elevated, enabling them to focus on innovation and strategy. AI systems will handle complex orchestration, while humans will provide guidance and handle novel situations that require creative thinking.
This transformation won't happen overnight—the foundations must be carefully laid. But I firmly believe that organizations that begin preparing now will gain tremendous advantages. Through AI-powered VSM platforms, the entire software delivery process will become more intelligent, more automated, and more resilient.
What excites me most is how this will enable organizations to deliver value to their customers at unprecedented speed and quality. The manual gates and checks that currently slow down delivery will be replaced by intelligent systems that can make informed decisions in real time. Value streams will become truly flowing rivers of innovation, with AI ensuring that quality, security, and compliance are maintained without becoming bottlenecks.
To net it all out, through the fusion of artificial intelligence and value stream management, I see a future in which the complexity of software delivery will be managed through intelligent automation, enabling organizations to focus on what truly matters—delivering value to their customers.
For more about the future of VSM, read the latest report from Dimensional Research on 2025 Trends in Value Stream Management. Even better, join our webinar to hear more from myself and other experts in the field, who share their insights on the report and its implications.
