What is a Kanban board?
A Kanban board is a visual task management tool that shows what is being done, by whom, and at what stage the work is. It helps the team see the whole process "on one page" and quickly find bottlenecks.
Board structure
A classic Kanban board is divided into columns that reflect the stages of work. For example:
To Do -> In Progress -> Review -> Done
Each task is a card that moves left to right until it is completed.
Main elements
- Cards (Tasks) - specific tasks or user stories. They carry a description, priority, assignee, and due date.
- Columns (Workflow stages) - the steps of the process. The team defines their structure based on the specifics of the work.
- WIP limits (Work In Progress) - a cap on the number of tasks in a column. Helps avoid overload and focus on finishing work rather than starting it.
- Colors and labels - visually highlight priority, task type, or team.
Advantages
- transparency: it is visible where tasks get stuck;
- manageability: it is easy to assess the team's workload;
- flexibility: priorities can be changed without disrupting the process.
Conclusion
A Kanban board is a visual map of current work. It makes the process transparent, helps the team stay in sync, and maintains a steady, sustainable flow of tasks.
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