About the course
The Kanban method is a highly effective approach for visualising workflows, limiting work in progress, and continuously improving efficiency and predictability in any type of work system. This intensive 1-day workshop provides a practical introduction to the core principles and practices of Kanban, equipping participants with the foundational knowledge and skills to immediately start applying Kanban to their own work environments.
You will explore the foundational principles of Lean and Agile that underpin Kanban and gain a solid understanding of the six core practices that define the method. The workshop places a strong emphasis on the practical steps of visualising work, guiding you through process mapping techniques and the design of effective Kanban boards to accurately reflect your workflow. You will learn the critical importance of limiting Work in Progress (WIP) and gain practical insight into how to set and manage WIP limits to optimise flow and identify bottlenecks.
A key component of the day is dedicated to understanding and using key Kanban flow metrics such as Cycle Time and Throughput to measure the performance of your workflow and identify areas for continuous improvement. The workshop concludes by discussing practical strategies for adopting Kanban incrementally within your team or organisation and fostering a culture of continuous improvement through effective feedback loops and evolutionary change.
Through hands-on exercises and facilitated discussions integrated throughout the day, you will gain the confidence to implement basic Kanban practices and take the first steps towards establishing a more predictable, efficient, and visible workflow.
Instructor-led online and in-house face-to-face options are available - as part of a wider customised training programme, or as a standalone workshop, on-site at your offices or at one of many flexible meeting spaces in the UK and around the World.
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- Explain the foundational principles of Lean, Agile, and the Kanban method.
- Describe and apply the six core practices of Kanban.
- Visualise your workflow by mapping processes and designing a Kanban board layout.
- Implement and explain the importance of Limiting Work in Progress (WIP).
- Understand and use key Kanban flow metrics such as Cycle Time and Throughput to measure flow.
- Identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement in a workflow using visualisation and metrics.
- Understand how to adopt and evolve Kanban practices incrementally within a team.
- Participate effectively in basic Kanban meetings/cadences.
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This 1-day workshop is suitable for anyone interested in learning how to improve their team's workflow, efficiency, and predictability using the Kanban method. It is particularly relevant for:
Team Members (e.g. Developers, QAs, Designers who work together)
Team Leads and Managers
Project Managers
Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches
Business Analysts
Anyone working in a process-oriented environment seeking continuous improvement.
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This introductory workshop requires no prior experience with the Kanban method. Participants should have:
Basic familiarity with collaborative team environments or project work.
An openness to learning new ways of visualising and managing work.
Basic computer literacy is helpful if you wish to incorporate the use of digital Kanban tools during the workshop.
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This Kanban course is available for private / custom delivery for your team - as an in-house face-to-face workshop at your location of choice, or as online instructor-led training via MS Teams (or your own preferred platform).
Get in touch to find out how we can deliver tailored training which focuses on your project requirements and learning goals.
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Introduction to Lean, Agile, and Kanban Principles
The Origins of Kanban (Toyota Production System, Lean).
Kanban's relationship with Agile principles and other methodologies.
The Six Core Practices of the Kanban Method (Explicitly list and briefly explain: Visualise Flow, Limit WIP, Manage Flow, Make Policies Explicit, Implement Feedback Loops, Improve Collaboratively).
The Four Foundational Principles of Kanban (Start with what you do now, Agree to pursue incremental/evolutionary change, Respect current roles/responsibilities/titles, Encourage acts of leadership at all levels).
Key Benefits of Adopting Kanban (Increased predictability, faster delivery, improved quality, better visibility).
Visualising Your Work and Workflow
Identifying Your Value Stream: Understanding the steps your work goes through.
Process Mapping / Value Stream Mapping: Techniques for collaboratively mapping the current workflow (identifying steps, queues, blockers).
Understanding Different Types of Work Items.
Building Your Kanban Board:
Designing board columns to represent workflow states.
Physical vs. Digital Kanban Boards.
Adding work items to the board.
Understanding different types of Kanban boards (Team, Portfolio - brief).
Hands-On Exercise: Map a simple, common team process and design the layout of a basic Kanban board (physical or digital tool representation).
Limiting Work in Progress (WIP)
Why WIP limits are the heart of Kanban and crucial for optimising flow.
Setting effective WIP limits: How to determine appropriate limits for columns and swimlanes.
Understanding the impact of WIP limits on bottlenecks, queues, and lead time.
Visualising bottlenecks using the board and WIP limits.
Hands-On Exercise: Apply WIP limits to the board designed in the morning and discuss the implications.
Managing and Measuring Flow with Metrics
Defining Flow: Understanding the state of work moving through the system.
Key Flow Metrics:
Lead Time vs. Cycle Time (calculation and importance).
Throughput (measuring delivery rate).
Work Item Age (identifying stalled items).
Using Metrics to Manage and Improve Flow:
Introduction to key Kanban charts: Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFD), Lead Time Distribution, Throughput Run Chart.
Interpreting these charts to identify bottlenecks, predict delivery, and understand system health.
Hands-On Exercise: Calculate basic flow metrics from a simulated workflow or sample data and interpret associated charts.
Adopting and Improving with Kanban
Strategies for Adopting Kanban in Your Organisation: Starting with your current process, evolutionary change.
Making Policies Explicit: Defining how work flows and how the system operates.
Kanban Meetings / Cadences (Brief Overview of purpose for: Replenishment, Daily Kanban Meeting, Flow Review, Service Delivery Review).
Implementing Feedback Loops for Continuous Improvement.
Introduction to STATIK (Systems Thinking Approach to Introducing Kanban - brief concepts).
Common challenges when implementing Kanban and how to address them.
Next Steps for Evolving Your Kanban System.
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The Kanban Guide (Official source) - https://kanban.university/the-kanban-guide/
Kanban.org (Resources and Community) - https://www.kanban.org/
Agile Alliance's Guide to Kanban - https://www.agilealliance.org/agile101/kanban/
Recommended Reading: "Kanban: Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business" by David J. Anderson
Recommended Reading: "Kanban from the Inside" by Mike Burrows
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