Kanban Methodology – Crib Notes

Essential Vocabulary

Kanban: Workflow management inspired by lean manufacturing (Toyota Production System).
Work-in-Progress (WIP) Limit: Maximum allowed tasks at any workflow stage.
Pull System: Tasks pulled based on team capacity, not pushed onto team.

Kanban Workflow Overview

flowchart TD
    Backlog --> To_Do --> In_Progress --> Review --> Done
    In_Progress --Blocked--> Analysis
    Analysis --> In_Progress

Key Kanban Principles

Continuous flow rather than fixed sprints.
Visualization of work via Kanban boards.
Explicit WIP limits to manage workload and reveal bottlenecks.
Flexible planning, adjusting tasks immediately as priorities shift.
Continuous improvement (Kaizen).
Immediate release capability for completed tasks.

Kanban Handling of Common Scenarios

Feature Blocked (Feature 1 Scenario)

Mark task visibly as blocked on board.
Temporarily remove from active WIP.
Quickly resolve through clarification with stakeholders.
Reprioritize back into workflow when resolved.

Flow:

Pull → Blocked → Clarify → Requeue in backlog → Pull again → Done

Mid-Development Requirement Changes (Feature 2)

Immediately reprioritize.
Small change: Adjust existing task in progress.
Major change: Cancel current task, create new task with updated scope.
Minimal process overhead, immediate adaptation.

Flow:

Start → Change occurs → Cancel/revise → New card → Continue → Done

External Dependency Delay (Feature 3)

Clearly mark task as blocked or “Waiting.”
Remove from active WIP temporarily.
Proactively coordinate with external teams.
Move to alternative tasks to maintain productivity.
Integrate dependency and resume when available.

Flow:

Start → Blocked by external → Mark & pause → Continue other tasks → Dependency resolved → Resume → Done

Smooth Flow (Feature 4)

Task moves seamlessly through workflow without delays.
Adheres strictly to WIP limits and explicit policies.
Continuous testing and quality checks ensure rapid completion.

Flow:

Backlog → Analysis → Development → Testing → Done & Release

Kanban Best Practices

Visualization: Clear board showing real-time status.
WIP limits: Forces resolution of blockers and prioritization.
Continuous Delivery: Releases features immediately upon completion.
Flexible Roles: No mandated roles, fostering team collaboration.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly analyze metrics (cycle time, throughput) to identify process enhancements.

Lifecycle in Kanban (Summary)

Continuous, adaptive workflow without sprints.
Immediate reaction to changing conditions or new information.
Regular and immediate releases.
Data-driven process improvements and transparency.

Kanban Motto: Visualize work, limit work-in-progress, adapt continuously, and deliver value immediately.