The Principles of Product Development Flow

Donald Reinertsen applies queuing theory, economics, and systems thinking to product development in a way no other book does. His core insight is that managing queues (not utilization) is the key to fast flow. The book provides the theoretical foundation for WIP limits, CFDs, and the economic reasoning behind small batch sizes. Our Flow Metrics Guide draws heavily on Reinertsen’s framework.

Resources

• Donald Reinertsen, “The Principles of Product Development Flow” (Celeritas Publishing, 2009)
• Flow — the foundational concept
• Flow Metrics Guide — our practical application of flow economics