Kanban Cheat Sheet

Kanban is a method for managing and optimizing work processes. Originally developed by Toyota in the 1940s as part of the Toyota Production System, Kanban has since been adapted and widely adopted in various industries, including software development, manufacturing, healthcare, and more.

At its core, Kanban relies on visualizing work, limiting work in progress (WIP), and enhancing flow. Here's how it works:

1. Visualizing Work: Kanban uses a visual board to represent the workflow. This board typically consists of columns representing different stages of the work process, such as To Do, Doing, and Done. Each task or work item is represented by a card or sticky note on the board, moving from left to right as it progresses through the workflow.

2. Limiting WIP: One of the key principles of Kanban is limiting the amount of work in progress at any given time. By setting explicit limits on the number of tasks allowed in the Doing column, teams can prevent overloading and focus on completing tasks before starting new ones. This helps to maintain a smooth and steady flow of work through the system.

3. Enhancing Flow: Kanban emphasizes the importance of optimizing flow, or the movement of work items through the workflow. By visualizing the workflow and limiting WIP, teams can identify and address bottlenecks, reduce cycle times, and improve overall efficiency.

4. Pull System: Kanban operates on a pull system, where work is pulled into the system based on capacity and demand. Rather than pushing work onto team members, tasks are pulled from a backlog into the workflow as capacity becomes available. This helps to ensure that work is only started when resources are available to complete it.

5. Continuous Improvement: Kanban encourages continuous improvement through regular reflection and adaptation. Teams hold regular meetings, such as daily stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives, to discuss progress, identify issues, and make adjustments to improve their processes over time.

6. Adaptability: Kanban is highly adaptable and can be customized to suit the specific needs and context of different teams and organizations. It can be applied at various levels, from individual teams to entire organizations, and can be integrated with other methodologies, such as Agile and Lean.

Kanban provides a flexible and effective framework for managing work processes, improving collaboration and communication, and delivering value to customers more efficiently.

Kanban is a visual workflow management method that helps teams visualize work, limit work in progress (WIP), and maximize efficiency. Key components of Kanban include:

1. Kanban Board: A visual representation of the workflow, typically divided into columns such as To Do, Doing, and Done.

2. Backlog: A list of all tasks to be done, serving as the source of work for the team.

3. WIP Limits: Constraints placed on the number of tasks allowed in the Doing column at any given time, preventing overloading and improving flow.

4. Flow: The movement of tasks through the workflow, from the backlog to completion, emphasizing a smooth and continuous process.

5. Pull System: Work is pulled from the backlog based on team capacity and availability, ensuring that tasks are only started when there is capacity to complete them.

6. Continuous Improvement: Teams regularly reflect on their process and make incremental improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

7. Meetings :

- Daily Stand-up: A short meeting held each day for team members to update each other on progress and identify any blockers.

- Review: Regular meetings to review completed work and gather feedback.

- Retrospective: Reflective meetings to discuss what went well, what didn't, and how to improve the process.

8. Visual Management: Making all work visible on the Kanban board, enabling transparency and facilitating collaboration among team members.

9. Tools: Kanban can be implemented using physical boards with sticky notes or digital tools like Trello, Jira, or Kanbanize.

10. Best Practices:

- Limit WIP: Enforce WIP limits to maintain flow and avoid bottlenecks.

- Continuous Delivery: Aim for delivering value frequently and regularly to stakeholders.

- Visualize Everything: Make all aspects of the workflow visible on the Kanban board to ensure transparency and alignment.

By adopting Kanban, teams can streamline their workflow, improve communication and collaboration, and deliver value more efficiently.

Kanban is a workflow management method that emphasizes visualizing work, limiting work in progress, and enhancing flow. Unlike Scrum, Kanban typically doesn't use backlogs. Instead, work sits in the "To Do" column, enabling teams to focus on continuous releases. All work is visible, scoped, and ready to execute on, allowing for immediate movement when a task is completed. This adaptability and focus on continuous improvement make Kanban well-suited for environments where priorities may shift frequently or where teams need to respond quickly to changing demands.