Kanban - a method to improve team effectiveness

The Kanban method of task management is used by companies because of its efficiency in time management. The experts in the application of this solution claim that it allows one to increase teamwork productivity by 20-30% in a short time. How does the Kanban task management work?

The Kanban method-a visible list

Let's start by looking at the method itself. Kanban originates from Japan, and the word means "a visible list", i.e., a "card" on which tasks to be performed are presented. Although this tool, which debuted in the Toyota factory, was originally used to control production, its simple rules can be successfully employed in any industry or team. In its simplest form, all you need is a large board hung in a place visible to the entire team, sticky notes, and a felt-tip pen. What does project management look like if we use Kanban? We write down all the tasks the team has to perform on sticky notes. We divide the board into three columns (in the basic version) named: "to do", "in progress" and "completed", and then we place the particular notes in them. The tasks are moved from one column to another after the specified criteria are met (e.g., only a task accepted by the client can be considered completed). The important thing is that the number of tasks that can be placed in one column at the same time is limited.

What makes this method powerful? It is much easier to manage tasks if they are something more than just empty phrases in our heads—if they are given a physical form. Naming and visualizing all the tasks the team has ahead of them allows them to determine the amount of work to be done. It is no surprise that it usually turns out that there are many more of them than it seemed at first. Thanks to this, the project status is always within arm's reach and all team members know at what stage their work is. This allows us to identify potential problems quickly, before they become real threats, and to eliminate the reasons for standstills. Effect? The job is done on time, and the final product is of better quality.

Kanban Software

In the days of the Internet and dispersed teams, the Kanban system has gained its electronic counterparts. You can benefit from all the advantages of this solution in ICP, where project management is carried out using a virtual Kanban board, allowing for workflow visualization. All you have to do to change the task status or transfer it to another section is... move the "card" corresponding to it to the proper place. The columns dividing the tables are fully modifiable. They can be removed, added, or renamed. The cards themselves are also equipped with multiple practical functions. In addition to the text description, you can also add such items as checklists, comments, attachments, and color labels categorizing our activities or deadlines automatically saved in the calendar. The legible task distribution and transparency of process flow in the company provided by ICP make communication among the employees much more efficient and improve work productivity.

It's past time you discovered the power residing in the seemingly inconspicuous cards. Kanban is a tool that provides a simple recipe for reducing task performance time, increasing the quality of provided solutions, and gaining control over the process we work in. The Kanban method is an effective method for increasing project team motivation and effectiveness.