Kanban Board
Jan Neudecker
1 min. reading time
A Kanban board is a visual tool used to manage and track the flow of work. It helps teams see what's in progress, what's done, and what might be stuck---at a glance.
Boards are typically divided into columns representing steps in the workflow, such as To Do, In Progress, and Done, but can be customized to reflect real-world processes (e.g., Design, Development, Testing, Deployed). Work items move from left to right as they progress.
A good Kanban board also includes key elements such as:
- A commitment point, where work is pulled in and the team agrees to start delivering
- Work-in-progress (WIP) limits, to reduce multitasking and improve flow
- A definition of workflow, making the process explicit
- A delivery point, showing where value reaches the customer
By making work and process policies visible, Kanban boards enable better focus, faster feedback, and continuous improvement. They are a core tool in applying the Kanban Method effectively.