What Foundation certification demonstrates

A professional grounding in how organisations organise, govern, and improve around enduring value streams.

Foundation certification demonstrates that you understand the core concepts, language, and design principles of value stream operating models. It shows that you can:

• Explain value streams as enduring organisational constructs focused on creating and delivering customer and stakeholder value.

• Distinguish value stream operating models from value stream mapping and IT-focused value stream management.

• Understand how strategy, governance, funding, organisation, capabilities, technology, and measurement align around value.

• Contribute confidently to conversations about designing and improving an organisation around value streams.

Certification provides a professional foundation for consultants, transformation leaders, operating model practitioners, enterprise architects, product leaders, and others working across organisational change.

Start your Foundation pathway

Your pathway to Foundation certification

Build your knowledge, prepare with confidence, and demonstrate your understanding.

  • Learn

    Work through the 17-chapter Body of Knowledge to understand the concepts, principles, and design elements of value stream operating models.

  • Prepare

    Use the example exam questions at the end of each chapter and the Exam Prep Community to consolidate your understanding and resolve uncertainties.

  • Certify

    Take the online Foundation examination and, when successful, receive your digital certificate and verified professional badge.

Who this pathway is for

For professionals who need to understand, explain, or help shape how organisations work around value.

The Foundation pathway is designed for:

• Operating model and organisation design practitioners

• Transformation and change leaders

• Enterprise and business architects

• Product, portfolio, and value stream leaders

• Agile and ways-of-working professionals

• Consultants and advisers

• Senior leaders sponsoring organisational change

No previous value stream qualification is required. The pathway takes an organisation-wide perspective and is not limited to value stream mapping, technology delivery, or DevOps.

Everything included in your Foundation pathway

Bring together the 17-chapter Body of Knowledge, example exam questions at the end of each chapter, the Foundation examination, and 12 months of access to both the Exam Prep Community and the Strategic Value Streams Community.

Built on an independent professional standard

A certification focused on the organisation-wide design and operation of value streams.

  • Strategic Value Streams provides a professional body of knowledge and certification pathway for people working with value stream operating models.

  • The Foundation certification takes a broader organisational perspective than value stream mapping or technology-focused value stream management. It addresses how strategy, governance, funding, capabilities, technology, organisation, and measurement work together around the continuous creation and delivery of value.

  • The pathway has been developed by an experienced operating model and transformation adviser with more than 20 years of experience helping organisations improve how they organise and deliver change.

FAQ

  • Is any previous qualification required?

    No. The Foundation pathway assumes no previous value stream qualification or specialist technical knowledge.

  • What does the bundle include?

    The bundle includes the 17-chapter Body of Knowledge, example exam questions at the end of every chapter, the Foundation examination, 12 months of Exam Prep Community access, and access to the wider Strategic Value Streams Community.

  • How long should I allow for preparation?

    Preparation time will depend on your existing experience. You can work through the Body of Knowledge at your own pace and use the chapter questions and Exam Prep Community to assess your readiness.

  • How is the examination delivered?

    The Foundation examination is completed online and contains 68 questions to be answered within 60 minutes.

  • What happens when I pass?

    Successful candidates receive a digital certificate and a verified professional badge that can be shared online.

  • What happens if I do not pass?

    Candidates who do not pass are eligible for a 50% discount on one retake of the same examination. A seven-day waiting period applies, and the discount remains valid for 12 months.

  • Is the Foundation pathway available internationally?

    Yes. The Foundation pathway is available internationally. Pricing is displayed according to your location, and the examination, learning materials, communities, certificate, and verified badge are delivered online.