Kanban is a visual system that helps manage work as it flows through a process. It is widely used in software development, project management, and other fields to improve productivity and efficiency. This guide will help you understand how to use Kanban effectively.

Key Concepts

  • Board: The Kanban board is the central tool where you visualize your work. It typically consists of columns representing different stages of the workflow.
  • Cards: Cards represent individual tasks or pieces of work.
  • Columns: Columns represent the stages of your workflow. Common stages include "To Do", "In Progress", "Review", and "Done".
  • Limit WIP (Work in Progress): This means you can only have a certain number of tasks in a column at any given time.

Getting Started

  1. Set Up Your Board: Create a Kanban board with columns that represent the stages of your workflow.
  2. Create Cards: For each task, create a card and place it in the "To Do" column.
  3. Move Cards: As you work on tasks, move the cards from one column to another to reflect their progress.
  4. Limit WIP: Make sure you don't exceed the WIP limit for each column.

Tips for Effective Kanban Usage

  • Visualize Your Workflow: The visual nature of Kanban makes it easier to see bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
  • Focus on Flow: Kanban helps you focus on the flow of work rather than just the completion of tasks.
  • Regular Reviews: Regularly review your Kanban board to identify areas for improvement.

Learn More

For more information on Kanban, check out our Kanban Best Practices.

Kanban Board Example