You Data Stat - Edi??o #01: Kanban in Action - The Path to Task Freedom and Maximum Productivity!
Gabriel Lopes de Albuquerque
Software Engineer Student at Universidade de Pernambuco
Introduction
In an increasingly fast-paced world, the ability to manage tasks efficiently is crucial to ensuring we don’t feel overwhelmed. Have you ever found yourself lost in an endless list of commitments and responsibilities? If the answer is yes, you are not alone! More and more people in various sectors are seeking methods that help simplify and organize their workflow. One of these approaches is Kanban, a visual system that not only improves efficiency but also provides a sense of control over our daily activities.
In this article, we will explore the origin of Kanban, its main features, benefits, and how it can be applied in our daily lives. Additionally, we will see how tools like Notion make this method even more accessible and practical, transforming the way we manage not only work tasks but also personal commitments and everyday activities.
I. Origin and Concept
Origin: Kanban was developed in Japan, initially for lean manufacturing and Just-in-Time (JIT) production. JIT is a management approach that aims to reduce waste by producing only what is necessary, when it is needed, and in the required quantity. This philosophy allows companies to improve efficiency, minimize storage costs, and respond quickly to market demands.
Central Concept: Kanban is a visual work management system that uses cards and a board to track task progress. The goal is to optimize workflow and improve efficiency by limiting work in progress (WIP) and avoiding overload.
II. Key Features
Kanban Board: The board is divided into columns that represent different stages of the workflow. Tasks are represented by cards that move from one column to another as they are completed. Let’s analyze an example of a Kanban board for better understanding:
In the image, the "Team Backlog" column stores the tasks to be done. As tasks progress, they are pulled into the "Analyze," "Review," "Build," "Integrate and Test," and finally, "Accepted" columns. The WIP limit is shown at the bottom, indicating the maximum number of tasks that can be in progress in each column.
III. Benefits
IV. Objectives of WIP Limits
V. Application
VI. Comparison with Scrum
VII. Kanban in My Personal Use: Organizing Daily Tasks with Notion
Kanban is not only useful for programming and work environments but also a powerful tool for organizing personal tasks. In my daily life, I use Kanban to manage everything from small activities, like grocery lists, to larger projects, like studying for exams or planning commitments.
A tool that greatly facilitates this organization is Notion. It is an application that allows you to create customized Kanban boards adaptable to your daily needs. Here are some reasons why Notion works so well with Kanban:
Example in Daily Life: In Notion, I use Kanban to manage daily activities like "Studying," "Grocery Shopping," "Work Projects," and even "Physical Exercises." For example, when I'm studying for an exam, I put each topic or subject as a card, moving it from "To Study" to "Studied" as soon as I finish. This gives me a sense of progress and keeps everything organized without overwhelming my mind with all the tasks at once.
VIII. Example Table: Kanban Application
Here is an example of a Kanban table to demonstrate how you can organize your daily tasks using columns like "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done":
Explanation:
Who Am I?
I'm Gabriel Lopes de Albuquerque, a student in the 3rd semester of Software Engineering at the University of Pernambuco (UPE). Focused on sharing the knowledge acquired during my course and implementing best practices in software development projects, I am always exploring new methodologies and technologies to enhance my skills. Here, I share my experiences and learnings on my academic journey.