Glossary · K
Kanban
Visual management of work and work in progress
What it means
Kanban helps teams visualise work, limit work in progress and improve flow. A board shows the stages of a workflow, while explicit policies define how work moves between them. The approach has roots in manufacturing and is also used in software and other knowledge work.
What it means for a business
A team can use a Kanban board to see blocked work and avoid starting more tasks than it can finish. Work-in-progress limits should reflect the workflow and team capacity, with lead time and throughput used to assess their effect.