Welcome to Kanban Introduction course

The project managers visual toolkit for successful project processes

Learn about this innovative agile project management approach in a nutshell using our introductory course which will teach you the basics of how to integrate Kanban into your projects, programming and even personal life! If you start this course before 5th July 2020 then you will qualify for our introductory price of £69 + VAT - 30% off our usual price.

What is it?

Kanban (Japanese for signboard) is a visual workflow tool and associated working principles that is easily adaptable for any individual or organisation running a project.

Where is it from?

Its roots lie in manufacturing and production, having originally been used to increase efficiencies in product delivery, but in 2007 it was adapted as an agile practice with associated guiding principles and processes to follow.

What’s great about it?

It is easy to understand, so it's easy to promote as a tool to be used internally. It isn’t a complex set of guiding principles that need an expert to interpret. Everyone can understand it, implement it and benefit from it. This introduction is great for anyone wishing to know the basics on how to implement Kanban or as a taster for those looking to study PRINCE2 Agile®. An understanding of Kanban processes are key to agile product delivery in this course.

How does it fit?

It is an agile way of working. Agile, is one of a collection of methodologies that enable us to deliver projects in a customer centric way. Agile, breaks projects down into smaller, continual and repetitive processes or ‘cycles’ rather than large, linear sections so there is constant review and delivery.

Why would I use Kanban and not something else?

Teams that are overloaded and not sure what to focus on? Kanban is your answer, focusing on continual process improvement. Small and regular meetings set around the Kanban board (whether this is digital or a physical version on a whiteboard) enhance communication. A limit on what tasks are allowed to be left ‘in progress’ before new tasks can begin, will ensure everyone has the same objectives and goals and they are not overloaded. Continuous delivery in short, reflective cycles is the essence of agile - Kanban is an agile approach that is easy to understand, implement and adapt so that any organisation can achieve this.

Course content 

The 4 principles

1. Start with what you do now: So simple to start. Overlay Kanban onto your current work practices.

2. Agree to pursue incremental evolutionary change: Take into account the hearts and minds of the organisation, changes need to be small and steady.

3. Respect the Current Process, Roles & Responsibilities: Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Although change is good, promote incremental logical changes that keep what is good in the status quo.

4. Encourage Acts of Leadership at All Levels: Everyone, no matter how junior, should feel that they are part of the change and share their ideas.

The 6 basic practices

1. Visualise the workflow: using the critical and essential Kanban board.
2. Limit work in progress: Simply put, focus on a limited number of ‘work in progress’ tasks and do not overload with multi-tasking too much. This way your resource is focusing on the right things effectively.
3. Manage flow: of the items and not the workforce. Tasks effectively should be moving quickly across our board.
4. Make process policies explicit: Include the workforce in the need for the change and be transparent about it’s importance and how to do it.
5. Feedback loops: Continuously but short and to the point.
6. Improve collaboratively; through a shared understanding of why we need things and how to do them.