The document discusses value streams and the need for organizations to take a shared, cross-functional approach to analyzing and optimizing them. It notes that while departments aim to optimize their portion of the value stream, this often sub-optimizes the overall stream. It recommends forming cross-functional teams to map current and future states, and developing shared key performance indicators and leaders to continually assess and improve value streams. Taking this approach can help organizations escape local optimizations and instead maximize value while minimizing waste across the end-to-end customer experience.