What is Kanban?
A visual workflow management method that uses boards and cards to represent work items moving through defined stages, with limits on work in progress.
Detailed Explanation
Kanban (Japanese for "visual signal") is a lean method for managing work that emphasises visualisation, flow, and limiting work in progress (WIP). A Kanban board displays columns representing stages of a workflow (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Review, Done), with cards representing individual work items that move across the board as they progress. The key principle is WIP limits — capping the number of items allowed in any stage at one time. This prevents overload, reveals bottlenecks, and encourages the team to finish existing work before starting new work. Unlike Scrum, Kanban does not require fixed iterations; work flows continuously.
Why It Matters
Kanban makes work visible and manageable in a way that lists and spreadsheets cannot. The WIP limits are particularly powerful — they stop the common practice of starting many things and finishing few, which creates the illusion of busyness without actual progress. Teams using Kanban typically see significant improvements in cycle time and delivery predictability.
Example
A graphic design studio implements a Kanban board with columns for Briefed, Designing, Client Review, Revisions, and Approved. They set a WIP limit of 5 in the Designing column. When it is full, designers finish current jobs before starting new ones. Average turnaround time drops from 10 days to 4 days, and the constant sense of being overwhelmed disappears.
Related Terms
An iterative approach to project management and product development that delivers work in small increments, emphasising flexibility, collaboration, and customer feedback.
A fixed-length iteration (typically 1-4 weeks) during which a development team works to complete a defined set of tasks or user stories.
A point in a process where the flow of work is restricted or slowed, limiting the overall throughput of the system.
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