How Does Kanban Work?
The fundamental concept of Kanban revolves around visualizing the workflow on a Kanban board. The board typically consists of columns representing different stages of the workflow and cards representing tasks or work items. Each card moves through the columns, from the “To Do” stage to the “Done” stage, providing a clear visual representation of the work progress.
Key principle of Kanban is limiting work in progress (WIP). By setting WIP limits for each stage, teams can avoid overloading themselves, maintain a steady workflow, and quickly identify issues that may hinder progress. This approach encourages a pull-based system, where team members pull new work only when they have the capacity to handle it.
Continuous improvement is another core aspect of Kanban. Teams regularly review their processes, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes incrementally. This iterative approach fosters adaptability and ensures that the team is always striving to enhance efficiency.
Kanban in Product Management | Working & Uses
Kanban is a widely adopted product management methodology that originated from lean manufacturing practices in the 1940s in Japan. The term “Kanban” translates to “visual card” or “signal” in Japanese, reflecting its core principle of visualizing work processes. Over the years, Kanban has evolved and found applications in various industries, including software development, marketing, and product management.
Table of Content
- What is Kanban?
- How Does Kanban Work?
- How Kanban is Used by the Product Manager?
- Conclusion: