The Kanban method started out as a just in time manufacturing process developed by Toyota. Inspiration come from an unlikely source. They looked at Supermarkets and how they stock inventory. Today, the method is a valuable project management tool – and not just for car manufactures or software developers. It is also know as an agile project management tool.
The physical or virtual board shows most commonly three sections:
- To Do
- In Progress
- Done
The method (Japanese: kanban = visual sign) provides full visibility for each team member on the project progress.
Kanban board benefits
Kanban boards are transparent and communicate team capacity in real time. Every team member is supposed to have access to the board to see and track the progress. This improves collaboration, efficiency and helps to meet the team goals. The board itself can be adapted to better fit the requirements for any team. Especially a physical board is very adaptable. All you need is a white board, a pen and index cards. Virtual boards are great for teams that do not work in the same location. Most tools offer solutions to adapt the board to your needs.
For example adding the responsible team member makes it easier to allocate tasks. Also new sections can easily be added to the workflow. Other ideas that might work for you:
- Add a brief description of the job
- Indicate how long the job will take
- Show various deadlines
- Include expected or upcoming tasks in the workflow
- Allocate tasks for new jobs
- Highlight urgent tasks
- Use different shapes and colours for your cards
Do you need help with project management?
Prisma is your guide for tackling challenging financial communication projects. Our dedicated Prisma Project Manager provides you with regular status update on your annual report or shareholder mailing. Just ask and contact us.
