Kanban vs Task Board: are they any different and which one to choose?

It’s quite challenging to understand what differs a task board from a kanban board, what is kanban itself and what is the correct way of using these terms. Let’s start with Kanban itself. This word refers to the methodology applied to task completion that was invented by Toyota company at the beginning of the XX century. They had (and still have) strictly defined stages of the manufacturing process. Each stage has its own capacity, so it’s technically not possible to have more tasks at each stage than you should have.

It leads to the way Kanban approaches tasks – the so-called “pull” approach. When one of the stages completes the task it “pulls” another one from the previous stage. The previous stage in its turn has a “bucket” with tasks that can be taken. The term Kanban board was used to describe a physical board where the cards with tasks were used to hang.

During the XX century, Kanban methodology spread over the world and was taken by other manufacturing companies. It was noticed by other industries and eventually, the development companies started taking it. However, the development process wasn’t so strict as manufacturing and it was hard to define the “capacities” of each stage. That is why the traditional Japanese pull-approach transformed into a push-approach more applicable to the American style of working. Now, a task on a board went to the next stage as soon as it was finished.

At this point, a new methodology called Scrum emerged. Some people call Scrum a Kanban with sprints. Sprints are short (usually up to two weeks) periods of time that are used for planning. You plan your sprints in accordance with the possibility of tasks completion at each stage. Scrum boards may be called task boards but they are not Kanban boards.

Is this a Kanban board or Scrum board?

Board with tasks in Kanbanchi. Will you call it a Kanban or a Scrum board?

Pros and cons of using Kanban and Scrum boards

Google Workspace users need a solution integrated with Google products so that they don’t leave their familiar environment. Many apps offer connections to Google Workspace. But not so many can offer full integration in terms of seamless authorization or collaboration. Kanbanchi provides an online Kanban board. It is built on the Google Cloud Platform and works in Google Drive, and it makes it a perfect match for corporate Google Workspace users.

Kanbanchi was built by Google Workspace users for Google Workspace users. All you need to log in is your corporate Google account, all you need to have your project files in one place is to have them inside your Google Drive and attached to Kanbanchi, all you need to keep your team updated is team Google calendar and Kanbanchi board, all you need to have your incoming information on one board is to connect it to several Google forms. And it’s not the complete list of integrations.