Kanban Methodology

Kanban is a visual project management methodology that originated in Toyota's manufacturing process and was later adapted for software development and other knowledge work. The core of Kanban revolves around visualizing workflow on a board with columns representing different stages of work (such as "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done").\n\nKey principles of Kanban include:\n\n1. Visualize the workflow: Making work visible helps teams understand bottlenecks and process flow.\n\n2. Limit Work in Progress (WIP): Restricting how many items can be in progress simultaneously improves focus and throughput.\n\n3. Manage flow: The team monitors and optimizes the smooth movement of work items through the system.\n\n4. Make process policies explicit: Clear rules about how work moves through stages ensures everyone follows the same approach.\n\n5. Implement feedback loops: Regular reviews and metrics help teams continuously improve.\n\n6. Improve collaboratively, evolve experimentally: Teams make incremental changes based on data.\n\nUnlike Scrum, Kanban doesn't require fixed-length iterations or specific roles. It's a "pull system" where new work is only started when capacity becomes available. This creates a sustainable pace and helps identify constraints in the workflow.\n\nKanban metrics typically include lead time (total time from request to delivery), cycle time (time in active development), and throughput (completed items per timeframe).\n\nThe methodology excels in environments with variable priorities, maintenance work, or support scenarios. It's highly adaptable and can be implemented alongside existing processes.\n\nTeams often begin with visualizing current workflow before gradually applying WIP limits and other Kanban practices. This evolutionary approach makes Kanban particularly accessible for teams transitioning from traditional methods to more Agile approaches.

Kanban is a visual project management methodology that originated in Toyota's manufacturing process and was later adapted for software development and other knowledge work. The core of Kanban revolve…

Concepts covered: Pull system, Kanban Cards, Blocked Items, Metrics and analytics, Kanban Board, Kanban Cadences, Commitment Point and Delivery Point, Customer Focus, WIP limits, Workflow visualization, Classes of Service