Kanban - kirillsats/FirstAppBuketov GitHub Wiki

Kanban method of David Anderson is a set of management tools for work management and optimization of production processes in intellectual work. By intellectual labor we should understand activities that do not lead directly to the creation of a tangible product ready for sale: programming, sales, marketing, work of lawyers, work of information security specialists, design and similar activities. The work of these specialists is often invisible, as a programmer's code or a marketer's idea cannot be used or seen by an ordinary person until a final service or product is created on their basis.

Kanban method helps to manage this invisible work by visualizing it on a whiteboard and limiting the number of tasks that are performed simultaneously. This helps to bring order to the flow of tasks and makes it possible to organize predictable and efficient work without overloading, but respecting optimal productivity.

Kanban is a popular approach to implementing Agile and DevOps principles in software development. It involves real-time discussion of resources and full transparency of processes. Work tasks are displayed on a Kanban board, so team members can view the status of each task at any time.

To successfully implement the Kanban Method in a software development team, it's essential to systematize how work is managed and executed. A well-structured Kanban process promotes steady task flow and efficient workflow control. Here's how to approach it:

1. Visualize the Workflow. Start by mapping out your team’s development process on a Kanban board — physical or digital. Represent each key stage of the workflow, from task creation to completion, so everyone has a clear, shared understanding of how work flows.
2. Standardize Workflow Stages. Define and formalize the stages of your process to match your team's needs. While common stages like To Do, In Progress, and Done are a good starting point, tailor them to reflect your actual development lifecycle.
3. Identify Blockers and Dependencies. Ensure the board makes it easy to spot blocked tasks or interdependencies at a glance. This level of transparency helps teams resolve issues quickly and keep the flow uninterrupted.
4. Limit Work in Progress (WIP). Apply WIP limits to each stage of the workflow. This prevents overload, encourages focus, and maintains a sustainable pace of work. It also reduces task-switching, improving overall efficiency.
5. Foster Team Collaboration. Promote a culture of collaboration where team members actively help move tasks forward and work together to resolve bottlenecks. This shared responsibility accelerates delivery and strengthens team cohesion.
6. Use Detailed Kanban Cards. Represent each task with a Kanban card containing key information like a description, assignee, and estimated time to complete. These cards improve visibility and accountability, making progress easier to track across the team.

• transparency,
• balance,
• cooperation,
• customer focus,
• flow,
• leadership,
• understanding,
• agreement,
• respect.

The kanban system allows delegating tasks, managing project implementation of any complexity, and quickly identifying “weak links”. It is easier for team members to perform visually organized tasks - the efficiency of work increases while reducing the workload, and the problem of forgotten tasks and missed deadlines is solved automatically.

A team in a kanban system is a single mechanism: if one member fails to cope with his tasks, the whole project will suffer. At the same time, the board not only helps to detect shortcomings - the visualization of the process shows the contribution and value of each employee, which eventually becomes a great source of motivation.

In IT, kanban boards have become part of the Lean Software Development concept. Kanban boards of lean developers have sections according to the working status of tasks:

• tasks under discussion;
• agreed tasks;
• code writing;
• testing;
• confirmation;
• completed tasks.

Divided into multiple sections to separate workflows:

• Into scheduled tasks awaiting the assignment of executors;
• tasks in progress;
• completed tasks.

They represent a workspace divided into the required number of columns. Cards with tasks are placed in them. The cards are moved from one column to another as the work on individual stages and the project as a whole progresses. The most popular software kanban solutions are Trello and Jira. Many additional tools are available in software kanban systems. For example, a dashboard for monitoring key team performance indicators, integration with third-party services and applications - from messengers to CRM. Task cards have options for collaborative work: assigning and notifying those responsible, checklists and comments, and the ability to attach any documents and multimedia files.

Kanban, though originated in the manufacturing environment, has been used effectively in other areas as well. For example:

• Marketing: Visualizing marketing campaigns, content maintenance or social media. Kanban helps to track the progress of tasks and organize work for creating promotional materials, audience analysis, and other activities.

• Legal and Consulting Services: Kanban can be used to manage litigation cases, contract preparation tasks, approvals or investigations. This allows you to track the status of each case and avoid missing deadlines or errors.

• Education: Using Kanban to manage student projects or teaching teams can improve the efficiency of educational tasks.

Feature / Aspect	Kanban Method	Scrum Framework
Purpose / Focus	Optimizing flow of work across teams and systems	Delivering working product increments quickly and iteratively
Approach	Evolutionary, continuous improvement	Iterative and incremental development
Timeframes / Cadence	Continuous flow, no fixed iterations	Time-boxed sprints (usually 1–4 weeks)
Roles	No required roles; roles evolve as needed	Defined roles: Scrum Master, Product Owner, Development Team
Workflow Visualization	Central practice — tasks visualized on Kanban board	Not required but often used (e.g., task boards or burndown charts)
Work In Progress (WIP) Limits	Core practice — limits are applied to control flow	Not enforced by default
Meetings / Events	Optional but recommended (e.g., Kanban cadences: Replenishment, Delivery, etc.)	Required events: Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Retrospective
Change Policy	Changes can be made anytime if capacity allows	Scope is locked during a sprint
Process Ownership	Team defines and evolves processes	Follows defined process from Scrum Guide
Feedback Loops	Emphasis on service delivery and feedback cadences	Emphasis on feedback at sprint boundaries
Metrics / KPIs	Flow-based: Cycle time, Lead time, Throughput, Work item aging	Velocity, Sprint Burndown, Burnup charts
Guidance	Kanban Method (Kanban University)	Scrum Guide (scrumguides.org)
Adaptability	High — system evolves based on data and team needs	Medium — some constraints due to fixed roles and structure
Scalability	Naturally scalable across services and enterprise	Requires additional frameworks (e.g., SAFe, Nexus, LeSS) to scale
Best For	Teams looking to improve existing processes, service delivery, support workflows	Product development teams creating new functionality in increments