What is Kanban?

The Kanban Method is a method for designing, managing, and improving knowledge work flow systems. Organizations can also use the strategy to start with their current workflow and drive evolutionary transformation. They can accomplish this by visualizing their work flow, limiting work in progress (WIP), and stopping starting and starting again. Kanban boards use cards, columns, and continuous improvement to help technology and service teams commit to the right amount of work, and get it done!

The Kanban Method derives its name from the use of kanban — visible signalling systems for intangible work products – to control work in progress.

Origin of Kanban

Kanban has come a long way to become an important component of today's lean management methodology. It's worth delving into Kanban's illustrious past, which dates back to Japan's Edo period.

• After the terrible near-constant military battles and social turmoil of the 14th century came to an end in 1603, Japan entered a period of stability and economic progress. The word "Kanban" was first coined on these streets.
  

• Toyota was the first corporation to develop and implement it as a scheduling system for just-in-time production. It began as a scheduling system for lean manufacturing.

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• Around 2003-2008, project management in Software has already been gradually shifting from cumbersome and inefficient processes like the CMMI toward a more light, “agile” approach, which got formalized under the Agile Manifesto, published in 2001.
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• In 2009, the first web-based applications to manage projects and business processes with Kanban method emerged, making ground for wider adoption of Kanban principles outside the Software Industry.
  

• As knowledge and application of Kanban increased, it became clear that it can be applied to any repeatable process, not just software development. Every type of process might benefit from Kanban, including manufacturing, sales, marketing, and recruitment.
  

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Kanban help teams to improve their services by embracing certain values, including :

• Transparency means sharing facts in a transparent and open manner.
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• Collaboration to improve people's working relationships
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• Flow Work is a flow of value that can be continuous or episodic.
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• Understanding that to progress and improve in their work, individuals and organizations must first understand where they are beginning from.
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• Agreement means everyone involved in a system is committed to improvement and agrees to work together to achieve objectives.
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• Value, comprehend, and show consideration for others.
  

Why use Kanban?

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How to implement Kanban?

Necessary steps for Kanban implementation are:

1. Visualization of workflow - The columns on a Kanban task board must indicate all stages of work, from "to do" to "done." The tasks are assigned to these columns based on their current level of completion.
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2. Limit the amount of WIP - WIP stands for “Work in Progress”. While implementing Kanban, you should limit the number of jobs you work on. You will be able to use your time more effectively as a result of this.
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3. Switch to explicit policies - This step is all about making plans. You should obviously be aware of the software you're developing. It will have a favorable impact on the predictability of your project.
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4. Manage and measure your workflow - To increase the quality of your product and the time it takes to make it, you must accurately measure your Kanban cycles.
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5. Use scientific method for optimization - You can come up with fresh strategies using your Kanban task board. If you want to optimize your workflow, simply make some changes.

               
Who can use Kanban?

1. An Individual

The Kanban board isn't just for big businesses. It's a common fallacy that Kanban is only for large companies because it's a little more sophisticated. There is a simple Kanban board that may be used by a single person.

2. A Small Team

Kanban is useful for project management, since it helps assign tasks depending on their priority. It would be ideal for a small team to employ for project management.

3. Software Development Businesses

Kanban may be used by work development companies to plan and strategize their software before it is delivered. Because of Kanban's flexibility and insistence on essential tasks being dispatched first, the program can be ready for release at any time while other minor tasks are being worked on.

4. Factories

Kanban is applicable to Factories. Kanban was first created in the 1950s at the Toyota factory in Japan. This allowed the factory to better arrange their inventories and increase their production pace while still meeting client expectations.

6. Any major organisation:

Finally, Kanban may be used by any large organization; it is a tool for good project management, and most firms require it. It would be extremely difficult to manage a large corporation without the aid of a system like Kanban.

Conclusion

Kanban is a terrific approach to boost productivity, since its biggest feature is that it notifies assignees when you move between task stages. The information flows freely and the findings are communicated in a timely manner when these are used. 

We at Ricotta understand the importance of productivity to build value. Ricotta is built on Slack and offers a clean interface with task boards to collaborate with your team on daily tasks and projects; OKR software to align your team goals, automate OKR and engage employees effectively.