Terms

Kanban

Kanban is a workflow management method that uses visual signals to manage work and improve efficiency by aligning production with actual demand. Developed at Toyota for its just-in-time manufacturing system, it functions as a "pull" system, using cues to signal when new work should be started, thereby limiting excess inventory and highlighting process inefficiencies.

History and Origins

The Kanban method originated in the late 1940s at Toyota. Industrial engineer Taiichi Ohno developed the system to improve manufacturing efficiency. He was inspired by how American supermarkets only restocked shelves based on customer demand, creating a "pull" system.

Initially a tool for physical manufacturing, Kanban's principles were later adapted for knowledge work. In the early 2000s, it gained popularity in the software development and IT industries. This evolution led to the digital Kanban boards widely used today.

Key Principles

The Kanban method is guided by foundational principles that promote evolutionary change and continuous improvement. These principles help teams manage workflow, reduce waste, and deliver value more effectively.

  • Visualize: Using a Kanban board to see all work items in context of each other.
  • Limit: Capping the amount of work in progress (WIP) to prevent bottlenecks and improve focus.
  • Flow: Managing and measuring the movement of work through the system to maximize value delivery.
  • Improve: Collaboratively refining the process through continuous, incremental changes based on feedback.

Kanban vs. Scrum

While both frameworks help teams work more efficiently, they have different approaches to managing workflow.

  • Kanban: This is an adaptive method focused on continuous flow and limiting work-in-progress (WIP). It offers flexibility and improved delivery speed but requires process stability and consistent updates. It's ideal for teams needing continuous delivery and is adaptable for both enterprises and mid-market companies seeking incremental improvements without disrupting current processes.
  • Scrum: This is a prescriptive framework using fixed-length sprints and defined roles. It provides structure and predictability but can be rigid, as changes are discouraged mid-sprint. It suits projects with well-defined tasks and is often preferred by organizations new to Agile that benefit from its clear structure and ceremonies.

Implementation Strategies

This is how you can start implementing Kanban in your team.

  1. Map your current workflow by defining the stages from start to finish and visualize them on a Kanban board.
  2. Place all your current tasks as cards on the board in their respective columns.
  3. Set Work-in-Progress (WIP) limits for each "active" stage to prevent bottlenecks and improve focus.
  4. Manage the flow of work, observing how tasks move across the board and addressing any delays.
  5. Continuously improve your process by holding regular team reviews to identify and implement changes.

Benefits and Challenges

Adopting Kanban can significantly improve workflow, but it's not without its hurdles. The method enhances transparency and efficiency, making it a powerful tool. However, its effectiveness depends on consistent team discipline and process stability.

  • Pros: Kanban boosts efficiency and transparency by visualizing the workflow. This helps teams identify bottlenecks quickly, manage work in progress, and ensure a smooth, predictable flow of value.
  • Cons: The system can be less effective if processes are unstable or if the board isn't updated diligently. Without team commitment, a Kanban board can become outdated and fail to reflect the true state of work.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kanban

Can Kanban be used for non-IT projects?

Absolutely. Kanban's principles of visualizing work, limiting work-in-progress, and managing flow are applicable to any process-oriented field, including marketing, HR, and operations. Its flexibility makes it a powerful tool for managing diverse workflows beyond software development.

How do you handle deadlines in Kanban?

While Kanban is flow-based, deadlines are managed by prioritizing tasks and ensuring they move smoothly through the workflow. Service Level Expectations (SLEs) can be set to forecast completion times, and high-priority items are expedited to meet their due dates.

Is a physical or digital Kanban board better?

The choice depends on your team. Physical boards are great for co-located teams to foster collaboration and visibility. Digital boards are essential for remote or distributed teams, offering automation, analytics, and easier integration with other tools for tracking progress.

Other terms

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Customer Centricity

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Event Tracking

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Event Tracking

Database Management

Database management is the process of organizing, storing, and maintaining data in a database to ensure its accuracy, security, and availability.

Database Management

A/B Testing

A/B testing is a method of comparing two versions of something, like a webpage or email, to determine which one performs better with your audience.

A/B Testing

Win/Loss Analysis

Win/Loss Analysis is the process of systematically tracking and analyzing the reasons why you win or lose deals with prospective customers.

Win/Loss Analysis

Email Personalization

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Outbound Leads

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Outbound Leads

Sales Operations Key Performance Indicators

Sales Operations KPIs are measurable metrics that track the efficiency and effectiveness of a sales team's operational processes.

Sales Operations Key Performance Indicators

DMP

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DMP

AI Data Enrichment

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AI Data Enrichment

Marketing Qualified Opportunity

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Marketing Qualified Opportunity

Functional Testing

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Functional Testing

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics uses historical data, statistical algorithms, and machine learning to identify the likelihood of future outcomes.

Predictive Analytics

Sales Calls

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Sales Calls

Solution Selling

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Qualified Lead

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Product-Market Fit

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Product-Market Fit

Bounce Rate

Learn about bounce rate, including understanding bounce rate implications, key factors affecting bounce rate, & reducing your bounce rate effectively.

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B2B Intent Data

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Feature Flags

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Content Management System

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Cold Emailing

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Cold Emailing

OAuth

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OAuth

Hybrid Sales Model

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SDK

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Branded Keywords

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GTM

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GTM

Account Executive

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Account Executive

Cost Per Impression

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Cost Per Impression

Decision Maker

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Decision Maker

Data Security

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Data Security

Marketing Intelligence

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Marketing Intelligence

Website Visitor Tracking

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Website Visitor Tracking

Total Audience Measurement

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Total Audience Measurement

Persona Map

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Programmatic Advertising

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Sales Presentation

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Sales Presentation

Average Revenue per Account

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Average Revenue per Account

Scalability

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Scalability

Sales Pitch

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Sales Pitch

ETL

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ETL

Revenue Operations (RevOps)

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Revenue Operations (RevOps)

Version Control Systems

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Version Control Systems

Marketing Metrics

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Marketing Metrics

RESTful API

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RESTful API

Unique Selling Point

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Unique Selling Point

Content Syndication

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Content Syndication

D2C

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D2C

Nurture

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Simple Object Access Protocol Application Programming Interface

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Simple Object Access Protocol Application Programming Interface

Stakeholder

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Churn

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Compounded Annual Growth Rate

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Compounded Annual Growth Rate

Target Account Selling

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Weighted Sales Pipeline

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Weighted Sales Pipeline

Buying Criteria

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Buying Criteria

Average Order Value

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Average Order Value

Average Selling Price

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Average Selling Price

Quarterly Business Review

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Quarterly Business Review

Hard Sell

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Edge Locations

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NoSQL

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Big Data

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Virtual Selling

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Precision Targeting

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Precision Targeting

Business-to-Business (B2B)

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Economic Order Quantity

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Economic Order Quantity

Content Delivery Network

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API

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API

Ideal Customer Profile

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Ideal Customer Profile

Ballpark

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Ballpark

Personalization

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Price Optimization

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Price Optimization

Sales Performance Metrics

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Sales Performance Metrics

Dark Social

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Dark Social

User-generated Content

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User-generated Content

Decision Buying Stage

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Decision Buying Stage

Shipping Solutions

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Shipping Solutions

Field Sales Rep

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Field Sales Rep

InMail Messages

LinkedIn InMail messages are a premium feature that lets you directly message any LinkedIn member, even if you're not connected to them.

InMail Messages

Sales Conversion Rate

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Sales Conversion Rate

Overcoming Objections

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Overcoming Objections

Request for Information

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Request for Information

B2B Demand Generation Strategy

Learn about B2B demand generation strategy, including key elements of demand generation, & crafting your demand generation plan.

B2B Demand Generation Strategy

LinkedIn Sales Navigator

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a premium tool helping sales teams find and engage with the right leads and accounts on the LinkedIn network.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator

B2B Data

Learn about B2B data, including sources and types of B2B data, leveraging B2B data for sales success, & ensuring the accuracy of B2B data.

B2B Data

Cross-Selling

Cross-selling is a sales tactic of encouraging customers to purchase products or services that are related to what they're already buying.

Cross-Selling

Incident Response

Incident response is an organization's systematic approach to managing and mitigating the aftermath of a security breach or cyberattack.

Incident Response

Customer Data Platform (CDP)

A Customer Data Platform (CDP) centralizes customer data from all sources to create a complete, unified profile for each individual customer.

Customer Data Platform (CDP)

Lead Generation Software

Lead generation software helps businesses automate finding and capturing potential customers' contact information to build sales pipelines.

Lead Generation Software

Generic Keywords

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Generic Keywords

B2B Intent Data Providers

Learn about B2B intent data providers, including evaluating intent data quality, leveraging intent data for growth, & B2B intent data: key providers comparison.

B2B Intent Data Providers

Supply Chain Management

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Supply Chain Management

Triggers

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Triggers

Marketing Analytics

Marketing analytics involves measuring and analyzing marketing data to understand campaign performance and improve return on investment (ROI).

Marketing Analytics

Demand Forecasting

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Demand Forecasting

Personalization in Sales

Personalization in sales means tailoring outreach to a prospect's specific needs, interests, and context to make communication more relevant.

Personalization in Sales

Smile and Dial

"Smile and dial" is a high-volume sales tactic where reps make numerous cold calls from a list, often with little to no prior research.

Smile and Dial

Escalations

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Escalations