Working Agreement Kanban

As businesses strive for better productivity and efficiency, many are turning to lean management methodologies like kanban to streamline their workflows. One application of kanban that has gained popularity in recent years is the working agreement kanban.

Working agreement kanban can help teams and individuals maintain a clear understanding of their responsibilities and priorities within a project, leading to more effective collaboration and faster completion times. Here’s everything you need to know about this process:

What is a Working Agreement Kanban?

A working agreement kanban is a visual tool used to manage the tasks and responsibilities of a team or individual. It is essentially a large board that breaks down the various stages of a project, from idea generation to completion, into smaller, more manageable steps.

Each step is represented by a card or sticky note, which is placed in the appropriate column on the board. The cards can be moved from one column to the next as progress is made, giving everyone a clear visual representation of the project’s status and what still needs to be done.

Why Use a Working Agreement Kanban?

A working agreement kanban can be an incredibly useful tool for improving team communication and collaboration. By breaking a project down into smaller stages and clearly outlining who is responsible for each step, everyone on the team can get a better understanding of their role and what they need to do to contribute to the project’s success.

Additionally, a working agreement kanban helps teams identify potential roadblocks and bottlenecks that could slow down the project. By keeping track of the progress of each task, teams can quickly identify areas where they may need to pivot or allocate additional resources to ensure the project stays on track.

How to Use a Working Agreement Kanban

Creating a working agreement kanban is relatively straightforward. All you need is a whiteboard or bulletin board, a set of cards or sticky notes, and markers to write on them.

First, identify the stages of your project and create columns on the board for each one. For example, the stages might include “Ideation,” “Research and Planning,” “Design,” “Development,” and “Testing and Implementation.”

Next, create cards or sticky notes for each task within each stage of the project. Write the task on the front of the card and the name of the person responsible for completing that task on the back.

As work is completed, move the cards from one column to the next, keeping the board up to date at all times. Encourage team members to meet regularly to check on the board’s progress, address any issues, and discuss potential updates to the process.

Conclusion

A working agreement kanban is an effective tool for managing projects that can help teams stay organized, productive, and on track. By clearly outlining the various stages of a project and the tasks and responsibilities associated with each one, everyone can better understand their role and work efficiently together towards the project’s completion. If you haven’t yet tried this process, consider implementing it into your workflow to see the benefits for yourself!