Catalog
method#Product#Delivery#Efficiency#Teamwork#Workflow

Kanban

Kanban is a method for visualizing and optimizing workflows.

The Kanban method helps teams visualize their work, identify bottlenecks, and optimize the flow of tasks.
Established
Medium

Classification

  • Medium
  • Organizational
  • Design
  • Intermediate

Technical context

Integration with project management tools.Linking with communication platforms.Connection to time tracking systems.

Principles & goals

Visualization of the workflowLimiting work in progressFocus on flow
Build
Domain, Team

Use cases & scenarios

Compromises

  • Misunderstandings about the status of tasks.
  • Overload due to too many tasks in progress.
  • Lack of adaptation to changes in the team.
  • Keep the Kanban board up to date.
  • Encourage open communication within the team.
  • Use feedback for continuous improvement.

I/O & resources

  • List of tasks
  • Team members
  • Kanban board
  • Visualized tasks
  • Identified bottlenecks
  • Optimized workflow

Description

The Kanban method helps teams visualize their work, identify bottlenecks, and optimize the flow of tasks. It is based on the use of Kanban boards to represent the status of tasks in different phases of the workflow.

✔

  • Increased transparency of the work process
  • Improved team communication
  • More efficient resource utilization

✖

  • May be less effective in very dynamic environments.
  • Requires discipline within the team to be successful.
  • Can become overwhelming with too many tasks.

  • Lead Time

    The time taken to move a task from 'To Do' to 'Done'.

  • Cycle Time

    The time a task spends in the 'In Progress' phase.

  • Task Completion Rate

    The percentage of completed tasks compared to started tasks.

Kanban Board of a Software Development Team

An example of a Kanban board visualizing the tasks of a software development team.

Marketing Campaign Management with Kanban

An example of how a marketing team uses Kanban to manage campaigns.

Kanban in a Sales Team

An example of applying Kanban to optimize the sales process.

1

Introduce the Kanban board to the team.

2

Train team members in the Kanban method.

3

Schedule regular reviews of progress.

⚠️ Technical debt & bottlenecks

  • Insufficient documentation of processes.
  • Technical debt due to insufficient maintenance of the board.
  • Lack of adaptation to new requirements.
OverloadUnclear prioritiesLack of communication
  • Ignoring the Kanban board.
  • Not updating the status of tasks.
  • Overloading the board with too many tasks.
  • Assuming Kanban requires no structure.
  • Believing that all tasks can be done simultaneously.
  • Underestimating the need for regular reviews.
Knowledge of agile methods.Ability to communicate within the team.Understanding of process optimization.
Agility of the organizationTechnological infrastructureTeam dynamics
  • • Technological constraints
  • • Resource availability
  • • Regulatory requirements