Kanban Board

5 minutes 5 Questions

A Kanban board is a visual representation of a project's workflow that allows team members to see the status of work items in real-time. It is divided into columns that signify different stages of the work process, such as 'To Do', 'In Progress', and 'Done'. Cards representing tasks or user stories are placed within these columns, and they are moved across the board as they progress through the stages. The Kanban board makes it easy for team members to identify bottlenecks, track progress, and ensure that the workflow remains transparent to all stakeholders.

Guide: Kanban Board & Answering Related Exam Questions

What is a Kanban Board?
A Kanban Board is a visualisation tool that enables you to optimise the flow of your work. It represents a project's story from start to finish, with a physical or digital board comprising of columns and cards. Each column on the board represents a stage in the workflow, and the cards represent tasks.

Why is it Important?
The Kanban Board's visualization of work allows teams to identify any bottlenecks in their process and make necessary changes to improve efficiency. It helps in balancing the workload, reducing waste in terms of time and resources, creating transparency and increasing collaboration.

How Does a Kanban Board Work?
A Kanban Board is designed based on the Kanban Principle which insists 'Start what you finish'. It operates by visually managing work items and workflow, allowing you to limit work in progress in order to prevent overload. New tasks are 'pulled' into the process as teams are ready and have capacity to take on more work.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Kanban Board
When answering questions related to the Kanban Board:
- Understand and state the core principles of a Kanban Board
- Give practical examples of how a Kanban Board can be used to improve workflow
- Mention its benefits
- Explain with clarity how it helps in visualising work and limiting work in progress
- Consider potential drawbacks and how they can be mitigated

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Question 1

A team reviews their completed Kanban board and identifies several tasks that took longer than estimated. What metric can help measure these discrepancies for continuous improvement?

Lead time Percentage of tasks in To-Do vs. Done Cycle time Work in progress limit Total number of tasks on the board The number of high-priority tasks

Correct Answer: Cycle time

Cycle time measures the duration between the start and completion of a task, providing insight into discrepancies between estimation and actual work time. Other metrics mentioned do not directly address the duration of individual tasks.

Question 2

A new team member joins the team. What is the best way to introduce them to the Kanban Board?

Assign them tasks on the board without explaining the workflow. Let them observe the board for a week before answering any questions. Teach them only during the next project. Make them responsible for updating the board without any training. Walk them through the board, explain the workflow and each column, and introduce the team's specific practices. Give them a Kanban book to read first.

Correct Answer: Walk them through the board, explain the workflow and each column, and introduce the team's specific practices.

The correct answer is to walk them through the board, explain the workflow and each column, and introduce the team's specific practices. A new team member should understand the process, the purpose of the board, and the team's unique practices to effectively contribute to the workflow.

Question 3

A team is struggling with a cluttered Kanban board, making it difficult to identify bottlenecks. What should the team do to improve clarity?

Remove due dates from tasks Remove all labels from the tasks Increase the number of stages on the board Limit the work in progress (WIP) for each stage Merge multiple tasks into one item Add a separate board for each team member

Correct Answer: Limit the work in progress (WIP) for each stage

Limiting WIP for each stage prevents a buildup of tasks in one area, making it easier to identify bottlenecks and promoting smooth workflow. Adding stages or boards, merging tasks, and removing labels or due dates only increases confusion and complexity.

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