What is WIP in Kanban? Why is it important to limit the number of tasks in progress?

WIP (Work In Progress) is the number of tasks a team is working on simultaneously across different stages of the process. In Kanban, WIP is a key parameter that shows the team's workload and the stability of the flow.

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#Why it's important to limit WIP

1. Avoiding overload The more tasks in progress, the less focus and the slower the movement. Limiting WIP forces the team to finish what's started instead of piling up unfinished tasks.
2. Reducing execution time (Cycle Time) When the team works on fewer tasks, each one moves through the process faster.
3. Spotting bottlenecks If a column hits its limit, that stage has become overloaded. This helps the team quickly redistribute effort and remove blockers.
4. Improving quality Less parallel work means more attention to each task and fewer mistakes.
5. Process transparency Limits make the state of the flow obvious: if tasks are stuck, you can see where the problem is.

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#Conclusion

Limiting WIP is the foundation of a stable flow in Kanban. It helps the team work deliberately, finish what's started, and maintain a steady, predictable delivery rhythm.