BACM12 — Operating Value Streams

Some organizations have developed what they call operating value streams. Sometimes these arise from application of "Lean" methdology. But, they may also arise from a desire to model the creation of value associated with particular product lines and analyze those representations of value with respect to the generic models of value creation provided by value streams.
Specialization of value streams and stages is disallowed by the BIZBOK (to avoid the common methodological mistake of conflating value streams and processes). Is there a need for operating value streams? Is there a way to represent this that does not violate the BIZBOK?

There is no consensus on the definition of an operating value stream

Nothing in the BACM prevents a modeler from creating a value stream that the modeler would judge to be an operating value stream. However, there is not a consensus on what relationship if any should be expressed or construed between an operating value stream and another value stream that might be considered to be a generalization. A frequently cited case would have a manufacturer of widgets, having a strategic value stream for widget production, decide to create an operating value stream for a specific widget type. The unresolved question is the rules of compliance between the strategic value stream and the operating value stream.