What is a Kanban board?
The best definition of a Kanban board is “a workflow management tool that is used to visualise work at its stages”. The two key elements of a board are cards and columns. Kanban cards usually represent tasks. Typically, columns represent stages on the board.
Why is It Called a Kanban Board?
The term comes from the Japanese “kanban” (看板), which means “signboard”. Here is a brief story of term creation. Japan, the 1940s: Taiichi Ohno introduced Kanban boards to Toyota, enabling it to effectively compete with American automotive manufacturers. The Kanban approach, along with Lean management, helped Toyota to increase productivity and reduce waste during production. The company still uses a Kanban board and even educates children about the Kanban and the Toyota Production System.
Who Uses the Kanban System?
Generally, Kanban layout depicts three columns:
- To Do
- Doing
- Done
This layout is simple and covers the three main stages that all processes must overcome. Regardless of its nature, each goal-oriented activity needs them. This is why the Kanban board is a one-size-fits-all tool. You can monitor personal stuff on a board. The approach is equally good for individual users, start-up teams, and small businesses. Educators use the method for management-level staff and students. Enterprise companies tend to choose Kanban to ensure everyone fulfills their job.
What Kanban Board Tool Should I Choose?
Kanbanchi is an online project management software featuring a Kanban Board, Gantt Chart, and Time Tracker. Kanbanchi requires no installation, as you can access it directly in your browser. It is also widely used for team collaboration and task management because it provides a platform that all team members can access simultaneously. Kanbanchi complements Google Workspace apps and becomes part of Google’s infrastructure. It also can be used with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
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