1.
Pass the pennies
A simulation of a simulation showing
How to achive more, by doing less
Marcus Hammarberg
@marcusoftnet, The Salvation Army Indonesia

2.
What is needed
• 4 players
• (4 supervisors, can be done by the players, must have
clocks)
• 20 coins
• A table & 4 chairs
• A whiteboard or flipchart to note results on (and a
pen)

3.
How to run
• The goal is to move all the coins through all the
players (the whole process)
• Each player does his work by flipping each coin over
• We time
• The time each player works
• Start when flipping the first coin
• Stop after flipping the last coin
• The time it takes for the first coin to come out of the
process
• The total time it takes for all the coins to goes through
the process

4.
Our players, in the simulation
• I’ve introduced some
variations to keep it
interesting
• Beth will use one hand
and make no mistakes
• Cesar will use one hand
and drop 1 coin per
iteration
• Daphne will use two
hands and make no
mistakes
• Adam will use one hand
and make no mistakes

5.
A word about timing
• There’s an artificial clock ticking in the left
corner during the game
• It ticks one tick per transition
• These are my made up times for the tasks
• Flip of a coin takes 1
• Move the coins to the next person take 1
• Dropping a coin takes 3
• To see clearly who’s working (as in
“time ticking”) I’ve added a green
square around the active players
“Clock”:
00:05

6.
Iteration 1
20 coin batches

7.
“Clock”:
00:00

8.
“Clock”:
00:01

9.
“Clock”:
00:02

10.
“Clock”:
00:03

11.
“Clock”:
00:04

12.
“Clock”:
00:05

13.
“Clock”:
00:06

14.
“Clock”:
00:07

15.
“Clock”:
00:08

16.
“Clock”:
00:09

17.
“Clock”:
00:10

18.
“Clock”:
00:11

19.
“Clock”:
00:12

20.
“Clock”:
00:13

21.
“Clock”:
00:14

22.
“Clock”:
00:15

23.
“Clock”:
00:16

24.
“Clock”:
00:17

25.
“Clock”:
00:18

26.
“Clock”:
00:19

27.
“Clock”:
00:20

28.
“Clock”:
00:21
Beth:
00:21

29.
“Clock”:
00:22
Beth:
00:21

30.
“Clock”:
00:23
Beth:
00:21

31.
“Clock”:
00:24
Beth:
00:21

32.
“Clock”:
00:25
Beth:
00:21

33.
“Clock”:
00:26
Beth:
00:21

34.
“Clock”:
00:27
Beth:
00:21

35.
“Clock”:
00:28
Beth:
00:21

36.
“Clock”:
00:29
Beth:
00:21

37.
“Clock”:
00:30
Beth:
00:21

38.
“Clock”:
00:31
Beth:
00:21

39.
“Clock”:
00:32
Beth:
00:21

40.
“Clock”:
00:33
Beth:
00:21

41.
“Clock”:
00:34
Beth:
00:21

42.
“Clock”:
00:35
Beth:
00:21

43.
“Clock”:
00:36
Beth:
00:21

44.
“Clock”:
00:37
Beth:
00:21

45.
“Clock”:
00:38
Beth:
00:21

46.
“Clock”:
00:39
Beth:
00:21

47.
“Clock”:
00:40
Beth:
00:21

48.
“Clock”:
00:41
Beth:
00:21

49.
“Clock”:
00:42
Beth:
00:21

50.
“Clock”:
00:43
Beth:
00:21

51.
“Clock”:
00:44
Beth:
00:21

52.
“Clock”:
00:45
Beth:
00:21

53.
“Clock”:
00:46
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

54.
“Clock”:
00:47
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

55.
“Clock”:
00:48
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

56.
“Clock”:
00:49
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:23

57.
“Clock”:
00:50
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

58.
“Clock”:
00:51
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

59.
“Clock”:
00:52
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

60.
“Clock”:
00:53
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

61.
“Clock”:
00:54
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

62.
“Clock”:
00:55
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

63.
“Clock”:
00:56
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

64.
“Clock”:
00:57
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24

65.
“Clock”:
00:58
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

66.
“Clock”:
00:59
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

67.
“Clock”:
01:00
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

68.
“Clock”:
01:01
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

69.
“Clock”:
01:02
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

70.
“Clock”:
01:03
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

71.
“Clock”:
01:04
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

72.
“Clock”:
01:05
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

73.
“Clock”:
01:06
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

74.
“Clock”:
01:07
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

75.
“Clock”:
01:08
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

76.
“Clock”:
01:09
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

77.
“Clock”:
01:10
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

78.
“Clock”:
01:11
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

79.
“Clock”:
01:12
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

80.
“Clock”:
01:13
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

81.
“Clock”:
01:14
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

82.
“Clock”:
01:15
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

83.
“Clock”:
01:16
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

84.
“Clock”:
01:17
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

85.
“Clock”:
01:18
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11

86.
“Clock”:
01:18
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:24
Daphne:
00:11
Adam:
00:20
First done:
01:18
All done:
01:18

87.
Results
Name 20 coin batch
Beth 00:21
Cesar 00:24
Daphne 00:11
Adam 00:20
Time to first 01:18
Time for all 01:18

88.
Notice
• Only one person active at the time
• The others are waiting with nothing to do
• Daphne, working with two hands, is A LOT faster
than the others
• Cesar dropping one coin, slowed down the progress
for the entire chain
• Daphne had to wait her turn
• The first coin was finished at the same time as the
last

89.
Let’s try that again!
Same rules and behavior as before.
But this time with 5 coin batches
That’s; flip 5 coins and then pass them over

90.
“Clock”:
00:00

91.
“Clock”:
00:01

92.
“Clock”:
00:02

93.
“Clock”:
00:03

94.
“Clock”:
00:04

95.
“Clock”:
00:05

96.
“Clock”:
00:06

97.
“Clock”:
00:07

98.
“Clock”:
00:08

99.
“Clock”:
00:09

100.
“Clock”:
00:10

101.
“Clock”:
00:11

102.
“Clock”:
00:12

103.
“Clock”:
00:13

104.
“Clock”:
00:14

105.
“Clock”:
00:15

106.
“Clock”:
00:16

107.
“Clock”:
00:17

108.
“Clock”:
00:18

109.
“Clock”:
00:19

110.
“Clock”:
00:20

111.
“Clock”:
00:21

112.
“Clock”:
00:22

113.
“Clock”:
00:23
First done:
00:23

114.
“Clock”:
00:24
First done:
00:23

115.
“Clock”:
00:25
First done:
00:23

116.
“Clock”:
00:26
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

117.
“Clock”:
00:27
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

118.
“Clock”:
00:28
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

119.
“Clock”:
00:29
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

120.
“Clock”:
00:30
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

121.
“Clock”:
00:31
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

122.
“Clock”:
00:32
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

123.
“Clock”:
00:33
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

124.
“Clock”:
00:34
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

125.
“Clock”:
00:35
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

126.
“Clock”:
00:36
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23

127.
“Clock”:
00:37
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30

128.
“Clock”:
00:38
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30

129.
“Clock”:
00:39
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30

130.
“Clock”:
00:40
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30

131.
“Clock”:
00:41
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30

132.
“Clock”:
00:42
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30
Daphne:
00:29

133.
“Clock”:
00:42
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30
Daphne:
00:29

134.
“Clock”:
00:43
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30
Daphne:
00:29

135.
“Clock”:
00:44
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30
Daphne:
00:29

136.
“Clock”:
00:45
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30
Daphne:
00:29

137.
“Clock”:
00:46
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30
Daphne:
00:29

138.
“Clock”:
00:47
Beth:
00:26
First done:
00:23
Cesar:
00:30
Daphne:
00:29
Adam:
00:29
All done:
00:47

139.
Results
Name 20 coin batch 5 coin batch
Beth 00:21 00:26
Cesar 00:24 00:30
Daphne 00:11 00:29
Adam 00:20 00:29
Time to first 01:18 00:23
Time for all 01:18 00:47

140.
Notice
• Many people active at the same time
• Daphne, working with two hands, doesn’t help her
much
• Cesar dropping one coin, slowed down the progress
for the entire chain
• Daphne times were MUCH worse, because she waited
for Cesar
• Even Adam, last in line, was affected
• The last coin came in 31 ticks earlier
• The first coin came in MUCH earlier (55 ticks)

141.
Let’s try that again!
Same rules and behavior as before.
But this time with 1 coin batches
That’s; flip 1 coins and then pass it over

142.
“Clock”:
00:00

143.
“Clock”:
00:01

144.
“Clock”:
00:02

145.
“Clock”:
00:03

146.
“Clock”:
00:04
First done:
00:04

147.
“Clock”:
00:05
First done:
00:04

148.
“Clock”:
00:06
First done:
00:04

149.
“Clock”:
00:07
First done:
00:04

150.
“Clock”:
00:08
First done:
00:04

151.
“Clock”:
00:09
First done:
00:04

152.
“Clock”:
00:10
First done:
00:04

153.
“Clock”:
00:11
First done:
00:04

154.
“Clock”:
00:12
First done:
00:04

155.
“Clock”:
00:13
First done:
00:04

156.
“Clock”:
00:14
First done:
00:04

157.
“Clock”:
00:15
First done:
00:04

158.
“Clock”:
00:16
First done:
00:04

159.
“Clock”:
00:17
First done:
00:04

160.
“Clock”:
00:18
First done:
00:04

161.
“Clock”:
00:19
First done:
00:04

162.
“Clock”:
00:20
First done:
00:04

163.
“Clock”:
00:21
First done:
00:04
Beth:
00:21

164.
“Clock”:
00:22
First done:
00:04
Beth:
00:21

165.
“Clock”:
00:23
First done:
00:04
Beth:
00:21

166.
“Clock”:
00:24
First done:
00:04
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:23

167.
“Clock”:
00:25
First done:
00:04
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:23
Daphne:
00:23

168.
“Clock”:
00:26
First done:
00:04
Beth:
00:21
Cesar:
00:23
Daphne:
00:23
First done:
00:04
00:23
All done:
00:26
Adam:

169.
Results
Name 20 coin batch 5 coin batch 1 coin batch
Beth 00:21 00:26 00:21
Cesar 00:24 00:30 00:23
Daphne 00:11 00:29 00:23
Adam 00:20 00:29 00:23
Time to first 01:18 00:23 00:04
Time for all 01:18 00:47 00:26

170.
Notice
• At 61% of all states EVERYONE was active, adding
value, moving the coins forward
• Daphne, working with two hands, doesn’t help her
much this time either
• Cesar dropping one coin, slowed down the progress
for the entire chain
• But it recovered faster and soon everyone was turning
coins again
• The last coin came in 52 ticks earlier than the first
round
• The first coin came in MUCH earlier (74 ticks)

171.
Comments
• Overall time goes down by doing fewer things at
the same time
• Time to first goes WAY down
• When played with humans individual times goes up
• Still not sure why this doesn’t happen here…
• My simulation is probably making simplifications
• In first round there was a lot of waiting
• Every person waited ¾ of the total time
• In last round everyone was working all the time
• Every person was waiting 3-5 ticks

172.
More comments
• What’s different?
• Same workers, coins, process and table
• Only difference is number of coins per batch
• Work in Process – WIP is lower
• Number of slides (aka steps in the process)
• 20 coin iteration: 79 slides
• 5 coin iteration: 48 slides
• 1 coin iteration: 26 slides

173.
Thank you
Marcus Hammarberg
@marcusoftnet
marcusoftnet@gmail.com
http://bit.ly/theKanbanBook