Kanban is a system used to manage production and workflow in a variety of industries. It is based on the Japanese concept of “just in time” production, which aims to reduce waste and improve efficiency by only producing what is needed at the right moment.
The Kanban system is composed of boards, cards, and lanes. The boards represent the tasks or processes that need to be completed, while the cards represent the individual tasks that must be completed. The lanes represent the stages of the process and can be used to track progress.
The first step in implementing a Kanban system is to create a board. This board should include a list of all the tasks or processes that need to be completed. This list should be organized by category, such as customer service, development, or marketing.
Once the board is set up, cards can be added for each task. The cards should include the task description, a timeline for completion, and any other relevant information.
The next step is to create lanes to represent the different stages of the process. These lanes should be labeled with the task or process that is being tracked. For example, a customer service lane might include tasks such as answering customer inquiries, resolving customer complaints, and providing technical support.
Once the board and cards are set up, the Kanban system can be used to track the progress of the tasks. As each task is completed, it is moved to the next lane so that progress can be tracked.
Kanban can be used to improve productivity by providing visibility into the progress of tasks and allowing for better planning. It also helps to reduce waste by only producing what is needed at the right time. Finally, it helps to ensure quality by allowing for quick and easy tracking of progress.
Audience
This tutorial is intended for software developers, project managers, and other professionals interested in learning the basics of Kanban. It is suitable for beginners who have no prior knowledge about Kanban, as well as for those who are already familiar with the concept and want to deepen their understanding.
Prerequisites
Before beginning a Kanban tutorial, it is important to have an understanding of basic project management concepts. Familiarity with Agile project management and Scrum methodology will be helpful, as Kanban draws some of its practices from those areas. A good understanding of basic software development concepts and processes is also beneficial. Additionally, having some familiarity with the concept of flow, or the ability to visualize work as it moves through a system, will be very helpful. Finally, having a working knowledge of charting and tracking tools such as Excel will be useful for creating Kanban boards.
Kanban – Introduction
Kanban is a project management approach that helps teams plan and execute work more effectively. It is based on the principles of Lean Manufacturing, an industrial production system that has been around for decades, and is gaining popularity in the software development world. Kanban provides teams with a visual method for tracking progress and ensuring that work is completed in an efficient and timely manner.
Kanban is based on three core principles:
1. Visualize Work: All work should be visualized, so that progress can be tracked and team members can stay focused on their tasks.
2. Limit Work-in-Progress: Teams should limit the amount of work-in-progress to ensure that tasks are completed quickly and efficiently.
3. Improve Collaboration: Kanban encourages collaboration between team members to ensure that tasks are completed on time and to the highest possible standard.
Kanban is a powerful tool that can help teams become more efficient and productive. It is also simple to set up and use,
What is Kanban?
Kanban is a system of managing and scheduling tasks and processes within a project. It is based on a visual card system, where each task is represented by a card that is moved along a physical or virtual board. The board is divided into columns that represent the different stages of the project, such as “To Do”, “In Progress”, “Testing”, and “Done”. By moving the cards through these stages, teams can track progress and identify blockers that might be preventing progress.
Kanban Tutorial and can be adapted to fit any team’s needs. Whether you are a team of one or a hundred, Kanban can help you get more done in less time.
The core concept of Kanban includes
1. Visualize the workflow: Use Kanban boards to make the workflow visible. This could be on a physical board or an online software.
2. Limit Work in Progress (WIP): Set limits on the number of tasks that can be in progress at one time. This helps keep the team focused and reduces multitasking.
3. Measure and Manage Flow: Track how quickly tasks move through the workflow and identify bottlenecks that need to be addressed.
4. Make Process Policies Explicit: Define how work should move through the process and what conditions need to be met before it can move to the next step.
5. Use Feedback Loops: Incorporate feedback from customers and team members to continuously improve the process.
Kanban – Lean Practices
Kanban is a lean practice that originated in the Toyota Production System and is used to improve and optimize the flow of work. It is a visual system that helps teams prioritize tasks, maximize efficiency, and reduce waste. It is based on the concept of visualizing the work process, setting limits on work in progress (WIP), and using pull systems to ensure that only the necessary work is being done. Teams using Kanban will create a visual representation of their work, such as a Kanban board, which shows the steps of their process and what tasks are currently in progress and what tasks are completed. This helps them to identify bottlenecks, prioritize tasks, and focus their efforts on the most important tasks. Kanban also encourages the team to continuously improve their workflow processes by tracking and measuring the results of their efforts.
Kanban – Benefits
1. Visualization of workflow: Kanban boards provide an easy-to-understand visual representation of tasks and their progress, making it easier to identify bottlenecks and prioritize tasks.
2. Improved flow of work: By limiting work in progress, Kanban helps reduce multitasking and encourages teams to focus on one task at a time, leading to a smoother workflow.
3. Increased collaboration: Kanban encourages teams to communicate and collaborate more effectively, as they are able to easily see what tasks each individual is working on.
4. Reduced cycle time: Limiting work in progress and focusing on one task at a time helps reduce cycle time and improve efficiency.
5. Increased transparency: Kanban boards make it easier for everyone to track progress and provide visibility into the workflow, helping to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Alignment with Agile
Agile is a set of principles and practices that guide the development of software and other products. Agile emphasizes the importance of collaboration, frequent feedback, and self-organization to create and deliver high-quality products. Agile is focused on providing value to customers by delivering high-quality products quickly and efficiently.
In order to align with Agile, organizations must focus on employing the Agile values and principles. This includes focusing on customer collaboration, delivering value through frequent delivery of working software, embracing change and adapting to customer needs, and fostering a culture of self-organization and collaboration. Organizations must also ensure that their teams have the skills, tools, and resources necessary to effectively adopt Agile practices. Additionally, organizations must ensure that their teams have the ability to work together and that they are following the Agile practices. Finally, organizations must ensure that they are measuring and monitoring the success of their Agile initiatives in order to continuously improve their processes and ensure that their teams are delivering value to customers.
Kanban – Characteristics
1. Visual Representation:
Kanban boards are visually organized, typically with a series of columns and cards that represent tasks and their status.
2. Limited WIP:
The number of items in progress is limited in order to focus on quality and prevent multitasking.
3. Continuous Improvement:
Kanban encourages teams to continuously improve by identifying bottlenecks and areas of improvement.
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Kanban encourages collaboration between stakeholders, such as designers, developers, and product owners.
5. Transparency:
Everyone involved in a project can see the current status of tasks. This transparency helps to identify problems quickly and efficiently.
6. Visual Metrics;
Visual Metrics is a set of metrics focused on measuring the visual performance of a website. These metrics include metrics such as first contentful paint, largest contentful paint, time to interactive, and cumulative layout shift. These metrics are used to track how quickly a website loads and how visually appealing it is to the user. They can help identify areas that need improvement in order to provide a better experience for the user. Visual metrics can also be used to compare the performance of different websites and to monitor the performance of a website over time.
Advantages of Visual Metrics
1. Visual metrics provide a clear and concise summary of performance. They can be used to quickly identify areas of improvement and areas of success.
2. They are easy to understand and communicate, making them ideal for use in presentations and reports.
3. Visual metrics help to identify correlations between different factors and can be used to identify trends and pinpoint areas of focus.
4. Visual metrics are more effective than traditional numerical metrics in communicating performance and progress. They can be used to demonstrate the impact of changes in strategy or operations.
5. Visual metrics enable teams to easily compare results and performance across different projects and time periods. This helps to identify patterns and trends for further investigation.
Kanban – Project Management
Kanban is a project management system that is used to help teams manage their projects. It is based on the Japanese concept of “just in time” production. Kanban has become increasingly popular in the software development world, as it provides teams with a clear visualization of the project’s progress and helps them stay organized. The main idea behind Kanban is to break down a project into smaller tasks and to track the progress of each task. Tasks are represented by cards in a Kanban board, which is divided into columns based on the task’s progress. By using a Kanban board, teams can easily identify bottlenecks and find ways to improve their workflow.
Value Stream
Value stream mapping is a lean manufacturing technique used to analyze and design the flow of materials and information required to bring a product or service to a customer. It focuses on eliminating waste and improving the flow of value. Value stream mapping involves creating a visual representation of the steps, delays, and processes involved in the production of a product or service from the beginning to the end. The goal of value stream mapping is to identify and eliminate waste, reduce cycle times, improve quality, and increase customer satisfaction. It is an important tool for companies looking to improve their operations and gain a competitive advantage.
Elimination of Waste
Waste in Code Development
One of the most common ways of wasting time in code development is by writing inefficient code. Writing inefficient code can lead to lengthy debugging and troubleshooting processes, which can take up a lot of time that could be spent elsewhere. Another common way of wasting time in code development is by not properly commenting code. Uncommented code can be difficult to read, making it harder to debug and troubleshoot, which can lead to wasted time. Additionally, some developers may spend too much time trying to find the “perfect” solution to a problem, instead of simply finding a working solution that can be improved upon later.
Waste in Project Management
Waste in project management refers to any resource that is used inefficiently or not used at all in the completion of a project. Common sources of waste include time, money, materials, energy, and effort. Inefficient use of resources can lead to project delays and cost overruns, resulting in increased costs and a decrease in customer satisfaction. Reducing waste in project management can help organizations save money and keep projects on time and on budget. Strategies for reducing waste include increasing communication, improving collaboration, streamlining processes, and using project management software to automate processes.
Waste in team potential
Team potential can be wasted when there is a lack of communication between team members, when there is poor leadership or when team members do not feel respected or valued. Other factors that can lead to the waste of team potential include a lack of resources, a lack of trust, and a lack of motivation.
Kanban – Agile
Kanban is an agile methodology that focuses on improving the flow of work. It is based on visualizing the workflow and limiting the amount of work in progress. It is designed to help teams focus on completing tasks in an efficient and effective manner. Kanban helps teams to identify bottlenecks and quickly adapt to changes in demand. It encourages collaboration, communication, and continuous improvement. Kanban also promotes transparency, allowing teams to track progress and stay on top of their work.
Kanban Board
A Kanban board is a type of workflow visualization tool that is used to help teams manage and track their work. It is a visual representation of a team’s workflow, typically consisting of a series of columns, each labeled with a different step in the process. Cards, often representing tasks or stories, are placed in the columns to show the status of each item. The Kanban board can be used to visualize the flow of work, identify bottlenecks, and identify areas for improvement.
Advantages of Kanban board
1. Visual Tracking: Kanban boards provide a visual representation of the current state of a project. This makes it easier to track progress and identify any potential issues.
2. Increased Efficiency: The kanban board system enables teams to easily identify which tasks need to be worked on, and in what order. This allows teams to work more efficiently and reduce wasted time.
3. Improved Collaboration: Kanban boards make it easier for teams to collaborate, as they can quickly identify who is working on what and in what order. This allows teams to share their knowledge and expertise, and find solutions to problems faster.
4. Self-Organization: Kanban boards enable teams to organize their tasks and projects in a way that works best for them. This helps to ensure that tasks are completed in a timely and efficient manner.
5. Flexibility: Kanban boards are flexible and allow teams to adjust their workflow as needed. This makes them ideal for projects that require frequent changes.
Kanban – Lean and Agile
Kanban is a Lean and Agile methodology that focuses on creating and optimizing workflows in order to maximize efficiency and productivity. It is based on the principle of visualizing and tracking work progress, organizing tasks into columns, and limiting the amount of work in progress. It is used to improve communication, increase visibility and collaboration, and reduce waste. Kanban can be used in software development, project management, manufacturing, and other industries.
Kanban in Value Stream
Kanban is a way to visualize and manage workflows. It is based on the principle of just-in-time production and helps teams identify, prioritize and manage tasks and processes. In value stream mapping, Kanban can be used to identify and track bottlenecks and inefficiencies, as well as to identify areas where value can be added. Additionally, Kanban can be used to show how work flows through the value stream and to help identify areas where process improvements can be made.
Feature Kanban Board
A Kanban board is a visual tool used to manage work in an agile environment. It is typically used in software development and other project management contexts. It is based on the Kanban process, which is inspired by the Toyota Production System and Lean Manufacturing. A Kanban board typically consists of a three-column layout, with each column representing a different stage of the workflow. The columns are labeled as “To Do”, “Doing”, and “Done”. The board also contains a series of cards representing tasks or items that need to be completed. Each card contains information about the task, such as who is responsible for completing it and when it needs to be completed. The cards can be moved between columns to indicate progress and help the team stay on track. The Kanban board can also be used to track progress over time and identify areas of improvement.
Agile Kanban in Sub-streams
Agile Kanban in sub-streams is an approach to managing complex projects using the Kanban methodology. This approach allows for the breaking down of a large project into smaller, more manageable chunks, each of which is managed in its own sub-stream. This approach is useful for projects that have many different components that need to be managed in order to achieve the overall objectives of the project. The sub-streams are managed using a Kanban board, which is a visual representation of the project, with cards representing tasks and columns representing states such as “To Do”, “In Progress”, and “Done”. This approach allows for better visibility and control over the project, making it easier to identify bottlenecks and optimize the workflow.
Continuous Delivery
Continuous Delivery in Kanban for Web Development can help teams streamline their workflow and ensure that the process is both cost- and time-effective.
Kanban is a visual system of workflow management that reduces cycle times and improves the overall quality of the product. Kanban boards are divided into columns, representing the stages of the process – from “To Do” to “Done” – and cards represent individual tasks.
Continuous Delivery in Kanban is designed to give teams the tools to continuously improve their process. It focuses on automating the pipeline and ensuring that quality is maintained throughout the development process.
The first step in achieving Continuous Delivery in Kanban for Web Development is to ensure that the process is well-defined and all team members have a clear understanding of the process. This includes setting up the Kanban board and assigning tasks, as well as setting up the necessary automation and monitoring tools.
Once the process is defined, it should be monitored for any potential problems. This includes tracking the time taken to complete tasks, as well as testing for errors. Automated tests can help catch errors early on and stop them from progressing.
Once the process is established and monitored, teams can then begin to optimize the process. This includes looking for opportunities to reduce waste, such as automating manual tasks, improving communication between team members, and ensuring that the process is properly documented.
Continuous Delivery in Kanban for Web Development can help teams create a more efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality product. By automating the pipeline and monitoring the process, teams can ensure that their product is always up to date and of the highest quality.
Continuous Process Improvement
Continuous process improvement (CPI) is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. This can be done through the use of various methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen. The goal of CPI is to identify and eliminate waste, boost efficiency, and improve quality. CPI helps organizations become more competitive by enabling them to offer better products and services at lower costs. CPI also helps to create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction and improved profitability.
Kanban – Scrum
Kanban and Scrum are both agile software development frameworks used to manage product development. Kanban is a more visual approach to managing a project, while Scrum is more focused on setting goals and using a timeline to complete tasks.
Kanban focuses on a continuous flow of tasks and allows teams to prioritize tasks in order to optimize efficiency. It is often used in a team environment, where collaboration is key.
Scrum is a process-driven framework that focuses on breaking down tasks into smaller chunks and setting deadlines for each task. It is often used in a more structured environment and emphasizes goal setting.
Both Kanban and Scrum are effective tools for managing product development and can be used together to create a more efficient workflow.
Kanban and Scrum – Similarities
Kanban and Scrum are both Agile project management frameworks that are designed to help teams become more efficient and deliver better results. They both involve breaking down projects into smaller tasks, setting deadlines, and continuously improving the process. Both frameworks emphasize collaboration, communication, and continuous improvement. Additionally, both focus on delivering working software quickly and efficiently.
Kanban and Scrum – Differences
Kanban and Scrum are both Agile project management frameworks used to manage complex projects. The main differences between the two are their approach, scope, and the way they are implemented.
Kanban is a pull-based process management system that focuses on delivering a product in the shortest time possible. It is mainly used for visualizing and managing the workflow of development. It is based on a continuous workflow, where tasks are pulled from an input queue as needed.
Scrum is a time-boxed process management system that focuses on delivering value in the shortest time possible. It is mainly used for dealing with complex projects and for delivering an end product. It follows an iterative and incremental approach to development, where tasks are broken up into small increments and delivered in a series of sprints.
In terms of implementation, Kanban relies on visualizing the workflow, while Scrum relies on planning, scheduling, and tracking the progress of tasks. Kanban focuses on optimizing the flow of tasks, while Scrum focuses on optimizing the delivery of value.
Kanban vs. Scrum
Kanban and Scrum are both popular Agile project management methodologies. Kanban is focused on visualizing and optimizing the flow of work. It emphasizes continuous delivery and incremental improvements to workflow. It is based on the idea of using a “pull” system to limit work in progress and maximize throughput.
Scrum is focused on delivering high-value features quickly and efficiently. It emphasizes collaboration between cross-functional teams and frequent communication. It is based on the idea of breaking down large projects into smaller chunks and prioritizing those chunks to deliver the highest value features within a set timeline.
The main difference between Kanban and Scrum is in their approach to project management. Kanban is more focused on optimizing the existing workflow, while Scrum is more focused on rapid development. Kanban encourages continuous improvement over time, while Scrum focuses on delivering features quickly. Ultimately, the best approach will depend on the project’s goals and timeline.
Adapting Kanban and Scrum Together
Kanban and Scrum can be adapted together to create a hybrid system that takes advantage of the benefits of both approaches. This hybrid system is sometimes referred to as “Scrumban” or “KanScrum.”
The basic idea is to combine the concepts of both Kanban and Scrum. The process of developing a product is divided into stages, with each stage corresponding to a Scrum sprint. The Kanban board is used to track the progress of a product through each sprint, with tasks being moved through the various stages of the sprint as they are completed. The system allows teams to be flexible and agile, while still having the structure and visibility of both Scrum and Kanban.
The combination of Scrum and Kanban can be beneficial for teams that need to be able to respond quickly to changes in the market or customer needs, while still maintaining the structure and visibility of both approaches.
Kanban – Tools 1
Kanban Tool: Kanban Tool is an online project management tool based on Kanban methodology. It is designed to help teams visualize their work, limit their work in progress and focus on improving the flow of their work. It features a drag-and-drop interface, customizable workflow, real-time collaboration, and built-in project analytics.
1. Kanbanery: Kanbanery is an online project management tool based on Kanban methodology. It is designed to help teams visualize their work, prioritize tasks, and collaborate in real-time. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, customizable workflow, and built-in analytics.
2. LeanKit: LeanKit is an online project management tool based on Lean principles. It is designed to help teams visualize their work, prioritize tasks, and collaborate in real-time. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, customizable workflow, and built-in analytics.
3. JIRA Software: JIRA Software is an online project management tool from Atlassian. It is designed to help teams track and manage their work, prioritize tasks, and collaborate in real-time. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, customizable workflow, and built-in analytics.
4. Earliz: Earliz is an online project management tool designed to help teams visualize their work and collaborate in real-time. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, customizable workflow, and built-in analytics.
5. Targetprocess: Targetprocess is an online project management tool designed to help teams track and manage their work, prioritize tasks, and collaborate in real-time. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, customizable workflow, and built-in analytics.
Kanban – Tools 2
1. Trello – A free, web-based project management tool that makes it easy to organize tasks and collaborate with team members.
2. Asana – A project management tool that helps teams stay organized and on top of their projects.
3. LeanKit – An agile project management tool that allows teams to collaborate in real-time and prioritize tasks.
4. Jira – A full-featured project management tool that helps teams track and manage project tasks.
5. Monday.com – A project and workflow management tool that lets teams organize tasks, prioritize workloads, and track progress.
6. Taiga – An open-source project management tool that helps teams manage their projects with a Kanban board.
7. Kanbanize – A project management platform that helps teams visualize their workflows and manage tasks.