Flexibility and continuous flow

Kanban is based on a simple but effective principle: visualization. Tasks are displayed on a Kanban board and move through different phases such as “To Do”, “In Progress” and “Done”. This makes processes transparent and teams can identify bottlenecks at an early stage. Perhaps this is why Kanban is often reduced to just the board. But the framework is much more than that: it is based on five clear principles that enable sustainable process improvement:

• Start with what you are currently doing: Kanban does not force radical changes. Instead, it builds on existing processes and improves them step by step. Tasks can be added or prioritized flexibly without disrupting the workflow.
• Strive for incremental change: Instead of making major changes, Kanban focuses on continuous, small improvements. This keeps teams adaptable and avoids unnecessary overload.
• Respect existing roles and responsibilities: Kanban integrates into existing teams and organizations without fundamentally changing them. All stakeholders can see what progress is being made at any time, which promotes transparency and collaboration.
• Promote leadership at all levels: Leadership should not only come from the top - every team member contributes to improvement. This decentralized responsibility increases effectiveness and commitment.
• Actively manage workflow: Focusing on the flow of work helps eliminate bottlenecks and maximize throughput. Work-in-progress (WIP) limits prevent overload and keep the focus on a smooth process.

These principles make Kanban a holistic approach that goes far beyond simply moving tasks around on a board.

When is Kanban the right choice?

Kanban is particularly suitable for:

• Teams with a continuous flow of work, such as support or maintenance teams.
• Dynamic environments in which requirements change frequently.
• Process optimization: When existing processes need to be improved without introducing a completely new system.

Kanban is not ideal if a team needs structured iterations or clear roles. In such cases, Scrum or hybrid approaches such as Scrumban can be more effective.

Challenges in the introduction of Kanban

• Discipline: Adhering to WIP limits and regularly updating the board requires commitment.
• Few guidelines: Without predetermined roles or meetings, teams must take responsibility for structure and processes themselves.
• Problem solving: Bottlenecks become visible, but solving them often requires additional coordination and resources.

How we implement Kanban

If the Kanban approach is suitable for your environment and objectives, our focus is on a step-by-step implementation and setting up the right learning framework for everyone involved. We support you in the following areas, for example:

• Setting up an efficient Kanban board: We design a clear board tailored to your processes.
• Definition of WIP limits: Together we define sensible limits to optimize the workflow.
• Training courses: With practical workshops, we help your team to successfully implement the principles of Kanban.

Kanban is an approach that promotes flexibility and transparency by making all tasks visible. Teams that are prepared to improve their working methods step by step can achieve significant success with Kanban.