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List the main principles of Kanban.

The main principles of Kanban are divided into two groups: foundational principles (how to adopt it) and flow management principles (how to work).

1. Foundational principles

  1. Start with what you do now Kanban does not require breaking current processes - it is layered on top of what exists and gradually improves it.
  2. Agree to pursue incremental, evolutionary change Changes are introduced evolutionarily, without abrupt reforms, so the team adapts without resistance.
  3. Respect current roles and responsibilities Kanban does not impose new roles - people keep their functions, and the system adapts to them.
  4. Encourage leadership at all levels Any participant can initiate improvements, not only managers.

2. Flow management principles

  1. Visualize the work Display tasks and stages on a Kanban board to see the whole process.
  2. Limit WIP (Work In Progress) Set a limit on the number of tasks in progress - this prevents overload and speeds up completion.
  3. Manage flow Track how tasks move through the process, analyze speed, stability, and bottlenecks.
  4. Make policies explicit All agreements and "done" criteria must be transparent to all participants.
  5. Implement feedback loops Regularly analyze results (through metrics and meetings) and improve the process.
  6. Improve collaboratively, evolve experimentally Kanban is continuous improvement based on data, observations, and the team's experience.

Conclusion

Kanban's principles aim at transparency, gradual improvement, and a sustainable flow of work, where the team does not chase speed but builds a predictable and efficient process.

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