Course: Fundamentals of Agile Web
Development
Lecture 3 : Kanban Method
LEARNING Objectives
Introduction to Kanban Principles
Kanban Board Setup and Workflow
Visualization
Limiting Work in Progress (WIP) and
Continuous Flow
Vision & Mission
Kanban is a visual management Example 1: Visualizing Workflow
method for achieving optimal In a software development
workflow. It originated from the team, a Kanban board is set up
Toyota Production System and has with columns representing
been adopted in software different stages of work: To Do,
development to improve efficiency In Progress, Testing, and Done.
and flexibility. The core principles of Each task or user story is
Kanban include visualizing represented by a card placed
workflow, limiting work in progress in the appropriate column. This
(WIP), managing flow, making visualization helps team
process policies explicit, and members see the status of
continuously improving. each item at a glance and
identify bottlenecks.
Kanban Board Setup and Workflow Visualization
A Kanban board is a visual
representation of the workflow,
typically consisting of columns and
cards. Columns represent different
stages of the workflow, while cards
represent tasks or user stories. As
work progresses, cards move across
columns from left to right. Setting up
a Kanban board involves identifying
workflow stages, creating columns
for each stage, and defining criteria
for moving cards between columns.
Example 1: Kanban Board Setup In a software development project, the team sets
up a Kanban board with columns such as Backlog, In Progress, Testing, Review, and
Done. Each column represents a stage of the development process. As tasks move
from backlog to completion, they transition across these columns, providing clear
visibility into the workflow
Performance Expectations
Of Employees & Superiors
Setting Performance
Standards
Example 2: Workflow Visualization Consider a marketing team using Kanban to manage
campaigns. Their Kanban board includes columns like Ideas, Planning, Execution, and
Analysis. Each campaign idea starts in the Ideas column and progresses through planning,
execution, and analysis phases. By visualizing the workflow, team members can track the
status of campaigns and ensure timely completion.
Performance Expectations
Of Employees & Superiors
Setting Performance
Standards
Limiting Work in Progress (WIP) and Continuous Flow:
Limiting WIP is a key principle of
Kanban aimed at preventing
bottlenecks and maintaining a
steady flow of work. By setting WIP
limits for each stage of the workflow,
teams can avoid overburdening
themselves and maintain focus on
completing tasks. Continuous flow
ensures that work moves smoothly
from one stage to the next without
unnecessary delays.
Example 1: Limiting WIP In a software development team, the
WIP limit for the Testing column is set to 2 tasks. If there are
already 2 tasks in testing, the team cannot start new tasks
until one of the existing tasks is completed. This ensures that
testers can focus on completing tasks without being
overwhelmed by too much work simultaneously.
Example 2: Continuous Flow Imagine a manufacturing plant
implementing Kanban to produce cars. Each stage of car
production, from assembly to quality control, has a WIP limit
to prevent overproduction and maintain a steady flow of
cars. As soon as a car is completed in one stage, it moves to
the next stage without waiting, ensuring efficient production.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Introduction to Kanban Principles
Kanban Board Setup and Workflow
Visualization
Limiting Work in Progress (WIP) and
Continuous Flow
