Kanban is a visual workflow management system designed to make software development processes more transparent, efficient, and manageable. In Japanese, the word “kanban” means “visual card.” It was first introduced as part of the Toyota Production System and later became widely used in software development and project management.
How Does It Work?
The Kanban system typically organizes work into three main columns:
- To Do
- In Progress
- Done
Each task moves through these columns, making the status of a project visible at a glance. Team members can easily see who is working on what and monitor the overall workload.
Why Is It Important?
- Optimizes workflow
- Improves communication among team members
- Clarifies priorities
- Makes better use of time and resources
Where Is It Used?
- Kanban helps software development teams manage tasks more effectively by visualizing workflows.
- It is frequently used in IT operations and DevOps for activities like bug tracking and system maintenance.
- Marketing teams use Kanban boards for content planning and campaign management.
- It also supports process tracking in areas like product management, human resources, and education.
- Additionally, it can be applied to personal productivity for managing individual tasks.