Kanban board in Agile project management

What is a Kanban Board?

A Kanban Board is a visual tool used in Agile methodology and Lean project management to track work in progress (WIP) and improve workflow efficiency. It helps teams visualize tasks, limit work in progress, and optimize delivery by continuously improving processes.

Key Components of a Kanban Board

A Kanban Board typically consists of the following elements:

1️⃣ Columns (Workflow Stages)

The board is divided into columns representing different stages of work. Common columns include:

• To Do – Tasks that have been planned but not started.
• In Progress – Tasks currently being worked on.
• Review/Test – Tasks under review, testing, or approval.
• Done – Completed tasks that meet the Definition of Done (DoD).

🔹 Example: A software development team might have these stages:
🚀 Backlog → Development → Testing → Deployment → Done

2️⃣ Work Items (Kanban Cards)

Each task, feature, or bug is represented by a Kanban card. The card typically contains:
✅ Task title
✅ Description
✅ Assignee
✅ Priority level
✅ Due date
✅ Labels or tags (e.g., "High Priority," "Bug")

These cards move from left to right as the work progresses.

3️⃣ Work In Progress (WIP) Limits

🚫 WIP limits restrict the number of tasks allowed in a particular column at any time.

• Helps prevent bottlenecks
• Encourages focus and flow
• Ensures team members don’t get overwhelmed

🔹 Example: If the WIP limit for "In Progress" is 3, no more than three tasks can be worked on simultaneously.

4️⃣ Swimlanes (Optional)

Swimlanes are horizontal sections in the Kanban Board that help categorize work by team, priority, or type.
🔹 Example:

• Urgent Issues
• Feature Development
• Customer Support Tickets

This helps teams manage different workstreams efficiently.

How to Use a Kanban Board?

Step 1: Create a Backlog

List all pending tasks in the To Do column.

Step 2: Set WIP Limits

Define maximum tasks for each stage (e.g., no more than 5 items in "In Progress").

Step 3: Move Cards Across the Board

As work progresses, move tasks from To Do → In Progress → Done.

Step 4: Monitor and Optimize

Regularly review the board to identify bottlenecks and improve efficiency.

Example: Kanban Board for a Software Team:

Benefits of Using a Kanban Board

✔ Increases Transparency – Everyone sees work status in real-time
✔ Reduces Bottlenecks – WIP limits improve workflow efficiency
✔ Enhances Collaboration – Teams coordinate tasks easily
✔ Improves Delivery Speed – Continuous flow speeds up project completion

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