How do you handle changes and feedback in kanban stories and tasks without disrupting the flow?

1 Understand the scope and value of each story and task

Before you start working on a story or task, make sure you understand its scope and value. What is the problem or need that it addresses? Who is the user or stakeholder that benefits from it? How does it align with the team's goals and priorities? Having a clear definition of the scope and value of each story and task will help you avoid scope creep, which is when the work expands beyond the original agreement. It will also help you evaluate the impact and urgency of any changes or feedback that arise during the process.

2 Communicate and collaborate with the customer and the team

One of the key principles of kanban is to optimize the flow of work and minimize the waste of time and resources. To achieve this, you need to communicate and collaborate with the customer and the team throughout the process. The customer is the source of feedback and changes, and the team is the executor of the work. You need to establish a regular and transparent communication channel with the customer, such as a daily or weekly meeting, a chat tool, or an email thread. You also need to keep the team updated on the status and progress of the work, and any changes or feedback that affect it. You can use the kanban board, a stand-up meeting, or a collaboration tool to share information and coordinate actions.

3 Apply the pull system and limit the work in progress

Another key principle of kanban is to apply the pull system and limit the work in progress (WIP). The pull system means that the team only works on the stories and tasks that are requested by the customer, and that are ready to be worked on. The WIP limit means that the team only works on a certain number of stories and tasks at a time, and does not start new ones until the current ones are done. This way, the team can focus on delivering quality and value, and avoid multitasking and context switching. It also allows the team to respond to changes and feedback faster and easier, as they have less work to finish or modify.

4 Use the feedback loop and the continuous improvement cycle

The final principle of kanban is to use the feedback loop and the continuous improvement cycle. The feedback loop is the process of receiving, analyzing, and implementing feedback from the customer and the team. The continuous improvement cycle is the process of reviewing, reflecting, and improving the team's performance and processes. Both processes are essential for handling changes and feedback in kanban stories and tasks, as they help the team learn from their experience and adapt to the customer's needs and expectations. You can use tools such as retrospectives, metrics, and experiments to facilitate the feedback loop and the continuous improvement cycle.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?