Kanban Cheat Sheet

Cheat sheet on Kanban, a popular framework for managing work, especially in Lean and Agile environments:

Key Concepts of Kanban:

• Kanban Board: A visual tool used to manage and track work as it moves through stages (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done).

• Work-in-Progress (WIP) Limits: Restriction on the number of tasks that can be in progress at any one time to avoid overloading the team.

• Flow: Focuses on the smooth, continuous flow of work through the system, optimizing for efficiency.

• Pull System: Tasks are "pulled" into the workflow by team members when capacity allows, instead of being "pushed" onto them.

• Continuous Delivery: Encourages frequent, small releases to ensure continuous delivery of value to customers.

Kanban Principles:

1. Start with What You Do Now:No need for sweeping changes; you can begin using Kanban with existing processes.
   

2. Agree to Pursue Incremental Change:Continuous, gradual improvements rather than radical overhauls.
   

3. Respect the Current Process, Roles, and Responsibilities:Maintain current roles and processes, and improve them over time.
   

4. Encourage Leadership at All Levels:Everyone is empowered to make improvements in their own work areas.
   

Kanban Practices:

• Visualize Work:Use a Kanban board to visualize the status of tasks and workflow.
  

• Limit Work in Progress (WIP):Set limits on how many tasks can be in progress to improve focus and prevent bottlenecks.
  

• Manage Flow:Measure and manage how work moves through the system (e.g., tracking cycle time).
  

• Make Process Policies Explicit:Clearly define rules and expectations about how tasks move through the workflow.
  

• Implement Feedback Loops:Use regular meetings (e.g., standups or retrospectives) to reflect on the process and adapt.
  

• Improve Collaboratively, Evolve Experimentally:Focus on continuous improvement through experimentation and adaptation.
  

Kanban Board Elements:

• Columns:Represent different stages in the workflow (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done).
  

• Cards:Visual representations of individual tasks or work items.
  

• Swimlanes:Horizontal sections used to organize tasks by different criteria (e.g., by team member or priority).
  

• WIP Limits:Set for columns to restrict how many tasks can be in progress at once.
  

Key Metrics in Kanban:

• Cycle Time:The time it takes for a task to move from start to completion.
  

• Lead Time:The total time from when a task is requested until it is delivered.
  

• Throughput:The number of tasks completed in a given period.
  

• Cumulative Flow Diagram (CFD):A visual tool that shows the status of tasks over time, helping to identify bottlenecks.
  

Kanban Roles:

• Unlike Scrum, Kanban does not prescribe specific roles (e.g., Product Owner or Scrum Master).

• Teams often use existing roles and responsibilities, adapting as necessary over time.

Advantages of Kanban:

• Flexibility: No predefined time frames or iterations.

• Continuous Delivery: Encourages small, regular releases.

• Focus on Flow: Emphasizes improving the efficiency of work.

• Transparency: Visualizes the entire workflow, making issues and bottlenecks visible.

• WIP Limits: Helps avoid multitasking and overloading the team.

Differences Between Kanban and Scrum:

• Iterations: Scrum works in fixed-length Sprints, while Kanban has continuous flow.

• Roles: Scrum has specific roles (e.g., Scrum Master), while Kanban does not.

• WIP Limits: Kanban explicitly uses WIP limits; Scrum does not, though Sprint goals act as limits.

This Kanban cheat sheet provides a concise overview of the framework for managing and optimizing workflows.

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