Learn how to create an effective Kanban board using this 5 step exercise. Learn more at KanbanZone.com.

1. Create a Kanban Board
(step by step exercise)

2. Kanban Refresher
Principles
1. Start with what you do now
2. Agree to pursue incremental, evolutionary change
3. Respect the current process, roles, responsibilities, and titles.
4. Encourage acts of leadership at all levels
Properties
1. Visualize the workflow
2. Limit Work-In-Progress (WIP)
3. Measure and manage the flow
4. Make process policies explicit
5. Improve collaboratively using models and empirical evidence

3. 5 Step Exercise
Step 0 - Kanban Basic Board (To Do, In progress, Done)
Step 1 - Kanban Card Types (labels)
Step 2 - Kanban Process Flow (columns)
Step 3 - Kanban Classes of Services (rows)
Step 4 - Kanban Explicit Agreements
Step 5 - Kanban Work In Progress (WIP) Limits

4. Step 0 - Kanban Basic Board
INPUT - Start with a basic Kanban board. For example:
● To Do
● In Progress
● Done
OUTPUT - A basic Kanban board. See next slide…
NOTE: In Kanban Zone create a new board using the default template called “Kanban (basic)”.

5. Step 0 - Kanban Basic Board

6. Step 1 - Kanban Card Types (labels)
INPUT - Think of patterns of work that you perform and categorize them into a
short list. These types of cards will help you visualize your work on the board,
but provide metrics for these types. For example:
● Leadership Team: Goal 1, Goal 2, Goal 3, etc…
● Media Team: Videos, Images, Prints, etc…
● Agile Team: Stories, Defects, Spikes, Chores
OUTPUT - Identified card types are listed in the “To Do” column by order or
volume (highest at the top). See next slide...

7. Step 1 - Kanban Card Types - Outcome

8. Step 2 - Kanban Process Flow (columns)
INPUT - Remove the column name “In Progress” and start flowing your highest
volume card on the board. Ask yourself, what is the name (in the form of a
verb) for each step to get this card from “To Do” to “Done”. For example:
● To Do, Review, Execute, Verify, Done
● To Do, Analyze, Design, Develop, Test, Deploy, Done
● To Do, Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control, Done
OUTPUT - All work types are now in the “Done column” and you have clear
column names on your board. See next slide...

9. Step 2 - Kanban Process Flow - Outcome

10. Step 3 - Kanban Classes of Services (rows)
INPUT - Although very helpful, identify classes of services is optional, but
leveraging classes of services will help you visualize your work and track
metrics at the class of service level. For example:
● Expedite (highest priority)
● Fixed Date (must get completed by a defined date)
● Standard (FIFO - First In First Out)
Classes of services can be whatever helps you organize your work. You could
also list various areas of work to represent regions, environments, etc...
OUTPUT - If you choose to use classes of services, then your board will display
rows for each class of service. See next slide...

11. Step 3 - Kanban Classes of Services - Outcome

12. Step 3 - Kanban Classes of Services - Outcome
NOTE: In Kanban Zone our boards are not grids, therefore you can have different containers with
different columns. Learn more about our advanced board editor.

13. Step 4 - Kanban Explicit Agreements
INPUT - For each column, you must provide an explicit agreement to ensure
that anyone using this board will know how to move cards. For example:
● Review - read the card, get answers to questions, approve to move forward
● Test - write test cases, execute tests, publish test results
OUTPUT - Every column on your board has explicit agreements. See next
slide...

14. Step 4 - Kanban Explicit Agreements - Outcome

15. Step 5 - Kanban WIP limits
INPUT - Use a simple formula to determine your initial WIP limit for the entire
board, then allocate that WIP limit across each WIP column. For example:
● WIP limit = (team members) x 2 – 1
NOTE: You can us a more advanced formula if you know your Efficiency %.
OUTPUT - Every WIP column has a WIP limit. See next slide...

16. Step 5 - Kanban WIP limits - Outcome

17. Create a Kanban Board
● Basic Board
● Card Types
● Kanban Process Flow
● Classes of Services
● Explicit Agreements
● WIP Limits
Once you have your board created, keep
improving it collaboratively with your team.
When cards start flowing on your board, make
sure to measure and manage the flow. These
metrics will help you adjust your WIP limit and
improve your board.
We hope that you
enjoyed this short
presentation!
Learn more at KanbanZone.com