Kanban Software Development

Kanban is not an agile methodology in the strictest of terms, but an approach for planning and executing the work in an orderly manner. A popular form of Agile development is the utlization of both the Scrum framework and a Kanban planning and execution process.

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The word Kanban is of Japanese origin and its meaning is linked to a time concept, “just-in-time”. In practice, the Kanban method exists in a board or table (Kanban board), divided into columns, that shows every flow of the software production. As the development evolves, the information contained in the table changes, and when a new task comes into play, a new “card” is created.

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The Kanban method requires communication and transparency so that the members of a team can know exactly at what stage the development is and can see the status of the project at any time.

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Kanban Board

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Kanban Advantages:

• Ability to view all tasks of one project (Completed, In Progress or In Testing, for example);

• It is possible to limit the number of running tasks (that is, the amount of work, bearing in mind its resolution or deliverability);

• Focus on the duration of a cycle – how long it takes a task to go from backlog to the final stage;

• Allows continuous deliveries.

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Kanban Disadvantages:

• It is possible for members of a team to misinterpret the information show on the Kanban Board, especially when it is revealed as outdated;

• Since there are no timeframes in Kanban, you can face time related problems, such as delays, associated with each and every stage.

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