Kanban Basics
What does the word "kanban" mean in Japanese?
"signboard" or "visual signal"
What does WIP stand for?
"Work in Progress"
What is the primary focus of flow in kanban?
keeping work moving smoothly through the system
What is the Japanese term for continuous improvement?
Kaizen
Why is communication important in a kanban team?
it helps identify blockers, fosters collaboration, and improves flow
What are the three main components of kanban board?
"To Do," "In Progress," and "Done"
Why are WIP limits important?
to prevent overloading the team and improve focus
How does blocked task affect flow?
it creates blockers and delays
What is one way to spot areas for improvement in a kanban process?
analyzing the board for bottlenecks or stuck tasks
daily standups
What is the primary goal of kanban?
"to improve flow and efficiency"
What happens when you exceed WIP limits?
work slows down, bottlenecks form, and flow efficiency decrease
what type of task should move through the board fastest?
high-priority task
When should a team reflect on their workflow to find improvements?
regular during retrospectives or when bottlenecks occur
it makes work visible and transparent for the whole team
What is the first step in starting with kanban?
visualize your workflow
What is one strategy for setting effective WIP limits?
start low and adjust based on team capacity and feedback
what can be done to improve flow in kanban system?
adjusting WIP limits, addressing blockers, and improving team collaboration
What is one kanban practice for fostering continuous improvement?
limiting WIP and focusing on flow efficiency
How can team members support each other in a kanban system?
by swarming on blaocked tasks or balancing workload when someone is overloaded
Who developed the kanban method in the context of software development?
"David J. Anderson"
What metric is directly affected by WIP limits?
cycle time
what is the term for a task that spends a long time in one stage of the workflow
stale or aging work
What is the benefit of continuous improvement?
increased efficiency, faster delivery, and higher quality
What practice helps team maintain continuous improvement together?
holding regular retrospectives and discussing workflow improvements