Full Explanation of the Kanban Method

Kanban is a working method invented in Japan. It allows you to manage and improve processes. The strength of Kanban is that all work, especially factory work, is made visible and not everything is picked up at once.

In the 1940s, Toyota began using Kanban to visualize steps in the process. It created more communication between teams about what still needed to be done and what the schedule was. The result: less waste, more value.

In this article, we discuss the following topics:

What is Kanban?
The Kanban Board
Kanban versus Scrum

What is Kanban?

Kanban is the Japanese term for “visual” and “map. The input is daunting: emails, task lists, reports, etc. The Kanban method is based on the idea that a picture says more than a thousand words and that the brain prefers visual images. Meet the 4 principles of Kanban:

1. Visualize the work

Because you make the work visual, it also creates a visible “workflow. This allows you to observe the flow of the work and analyze your roadmap. It becomes immediately clear where the work picks up. Interpersonal communication and collaboration will improve.

2. Limit ‘Work In Progress’

By limiting the amount of unfinished work, you reduce the time a task travels within a Kanban system. You also avoid problems caused by switching tasks and adjusting products.

3. Maintain flow

The Kanban method creates a certain work flow. By continuously analyzing this flow, you can get ahead of any future problems.

4. Monitor, modify and improve

When the Kanban method works well, it is the primer for a culture in which continuous improvement is central. Team effectiveness is determined by flow, quality and turnaround time.

Kanban versus Scrum

The thing all these Agile methodologies share is that they support incremental and iterative development. These methods are diametrically opposed to traditional methods. This involves first identifying all needs and requirements before anything is even developed.

Both methods, Kanban and Scrum, were developed in the ICT world. Scrum is ideal for projects. The entire project is divided into sprints and functionality is delivered in a relatively short period of time. The customer thus gets new functionality at his or her disposal with some regularity, rather than a whole new variant of the whole thing once in a while.

In both Scrum and Kanban, evaluating and embracing change is key. Your organization must be willing and able to transform. It also requires discipline to execute perfectly. The main differences are that Scrum is more prescriptive and focuses on results, while Kanban is perhaps more low-key and focuses on processes. Both methods have great potential to increase your productivity to achieve optimal results.