Kanban: what it is and what it means

Kanban is a tool for the visual management of workflow: the visualization of workflow on a board with columns (typically: To do / In progress / Done) shows the progress status of activities. It makes waste visible — especially waiting and excessive work-in-progress — before it becomes costly, without requiring status update meetings. A WIP limit (a cap on work in progress) encourages continuous flow work and the optimization of lead time. The Kanban board is the team's visual operating system.

Distinctive: without requiring status update meetings
Distinctive: visual management of workflow
Distinctive: visualization of workflow
Distinctive: WIP limit
Essential: progress status of activities
Essential: makes waste visible
Essential: board with columns
Essential: optimization of lead time
Constant: columns
Constant: work-in-progress
Constant: continuous flow work

Glossary

Kanban

A visual management tool for workflow that shows the progress of activities through columns (To do / In progress / Done), making waste and work-in-progress visible without status meetings.