# Kanban Methodology Kanban is a visual workflow management method that originated from the [[Toyota Production System]] in the 1940s, pioneered by Taiichi Ohno. The word "kanban" means "visual signal" or "card" in Japanese. Originally used for manufacturing, it was adapted for knowledge work by David J. Anderson in the mid-2000s. At its core, Kanban focuses on visualizing work, limiting work in progress ([[Limit Work In Progress|WIP]]), and optimizing flow through different stages. Unlike Scrum, Kanban prescribes no roles, no iterations, and no prescribed meetings—making it highly adaptable to existing processes. ## Core Principles 1. **Start with what you do now**: Kanban doesn't require immediate changes; it evolves existing processes 2. **Agree to pursue incremental change**: Continuous, evolutionary improvement rather than revolution 3. **Respect current roles and responsibilities**: No initial changes to job titles or team structures 4. **Encourage leadership at all levels**: Everyone can suggest improvements ## Core Practices - **Visualize work**: Use [[Kanban Boards]] with columns representing workflow stages - **Limit WIP**: Cap items per column to prevent overload and reduce [[Context switching]] - **Manage flow**: Optimize movement through the system - **Make policies explicit**: Define clear rules for how work moves - **Implement feedback loops**: Regular reviews and retrospectives - **Improve collaboratively**: Use models and data to evolve ## Key Metrics | Metric | Description | |--------|-------------| | Lead Time | Time from request to delivery | | Cycle Time | Time from work started to completed | | Throughput | Items completed per time period | | WIP | Current items in progress | ## Related - [[Kanban Boards]] - [[Scrum]] - [[Scrumban]] - [[Limit Work In Progress]] - [[Agile Manifesto]] - [[Context switching]] - [[Feedback Loop]] ## References - [[Henrik Kniberg]]'s books/articles/... - Overview: https://www.crisp.se/gratis-material-och-guider/kanban - [[Kanban and Scrum - Making the Most of Both (book)]] - Free version: https://www.agileleanhouse.com/lib/lib/People/HenrikKniberg/KanbanAndScrumInfoQVersionFINAL.pdf - Atlassian's Kanban Guide: https://www.atlassian.com/agile/kanban - AgileAlliance Kanban Guide: https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/kanban - Agile perspective on Kanban - LeanKit's Kanban Roadmap: https://leankit.com/learn/kanban/what-is-kanban. Detailed methodology overview - Trello's Kanban Guide: https://trello.com/guide/kanban - Kanban Blog: https://kanbanblog.com - Regular articles and case studies - Kanban University: https://kanban.university - Official certification and training programs