Kanban Wiki (English Version)

Meaning of the Word "Kanban"

• Kan (看) – means "visible" or "to look" in Japanese.
• Ban (板) – means "card" or "board".

What is Kanban?

Kanban is a workflow management method designed to improve process transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness. It utilizes visual task boards to track work progress. Originally developed in manufacturing, Kanban is now widely used in software development and project management to reduce overload and increase productivity.

Additional Principles and Values of Kanban

1. Transparency – All work stages are visible to the entire team, making it easier to track progress and identify bottlenecks.
2. Balance – Encourages a healthy work-life balance and prevents burnout through WIP limits.
3. Collaboration – Teams solve problems together and share knowledge.
4. Customer-centricity – Focuses on delivering continuous value to customers.
5. Flow – Tasks should progress smoothly and without delays.
6. Leadership – Strong leadership supports team autonomy and responsibility.
7. Understanding – Process changes are made with shared understanding of their purpose.
8. Agreement – Emphasizes compromise and conflict resolution for a healthier work environment.
9. Respect – Mutual respect among team members fosters productivity and innovation.

History of Kanban

• Developed by Toyota in the 1940s as a production control system to support "just-in-time" manufacturing.
• Adapted by Microsoft teams in the 2000s for software development.

Core Principles of Kanban

1. Visualization – Use Kanban boards to represent different stages of work (e.g., "To Do", "In Progress", "Done").
2. Limiting Work in Progress (WIP) – Control the number of tasks being worked on simultaneously to prevent overload.
3. Managing and Measuring Flow – Track how long tasks take to move through the workflow.
4. Continuous Improvement – Regularly review and optimize the process.

Structure of a Kanban Board

• Columns – Represent stages like "Backlog", "To Do", "In Progress", and "Done".
• Cards – Represent individual tasks with relevant details (e.g., priority, deadline).
• WIP Limits – Limit how many tasks can be in a column to maintain focus and productivity.

Benefits of Using Kanban

• Workflow Transparency – Easy to understand team progress and identify delays.
• Flexibility – No need for fixed iterations, work is ongoing.
• Increased Efficiency – Focus on finishing tasks before starting new ones.
• Customizability – Adaptable to various workflows and industries.