Kanban Lab

Kanban Lab

By Orod Semsarzadeh & Soma MazumderBusinessManagement
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Kanban Lab episodes

  • S1E33 Kanban Principles #6: Regularly review the network and its policies to improve outcomes

    The latest episode of our Kanban principles series has just been released on both Podcast and YouTube platforms.


    In the Kanban Method, we perceive organisations as dynamic entities, with the connections between its components constantly evolving over time, along with our policies and agreements.


    In this episode, Soma and Orod delve into the principle of 'Regularly reviewing the network and its policies to enhance outcomes', discussing its significance in driving overall improvement.

    16 min
  • S1E32 Kanban Principles #5 Manage the work; let works to self-organise around it

    In traditional management, the emphasis lies on overseeing individuals, monitoring their activities, and frequently reassigning them, all with the aim of optimising their utilisation. However, it's widely recognized that mere busyness doesn't necessarily translate to increased productivity.


    In this episode, Soma and Orod delve into a pivotal principle of the Kanban Method: 'Manage the work; let people organize around it.' This principle directs attention towards the work itself, spanning from initial customer demand to its fulfillment. By concentrating on the work and closely monitoring its progress, teams can identify bottlenecks, root causes of delays, and devise strategies to facilitate smoother workflow.

    26 min
  • S1E30 Kanban Principles #3: Encourage acts of leadership at all levels

    Tune in to the latest episode of Kanban Lab where Soma and Orod explore Kanban's third change management principle: encouraging leadership at all levels.

    They discuss how leadership extends beyond top-level roles, emphasising the importance of empowering every individual in an organisation to take ownership and drive change. Through real-world examples, they illustrate how distributed leadership can lead to improved agility and performance. They address common challenges and offer practical tips for implementing this principle effectively, emphasising the transformative potential of embracing leadership at all levels within the Kanban Method.

    22 min
  • S1E29 Kanban Principles #2: Gain agreement to pursue improvement through evolutionary change

    In this episode, Orod and Soma deep dive into the second principle of Change management, which says, "Gain agreement to pursue improvement through evolutionary change," emphasizes the importance of obtaining consensus among the team members and stakeholders regarding the need for continuous improvement through incremental changes rather than radical transformations.

    In essence, this principle suggests that teams should foster a culture where everyone agrees on the value of making small, continuous improvements over time instead of imposing sweeping changes or initiatives. This approach is aligned with the core philosophy of Kanban, which advocates for evolutionary change based on feedback and empirical evidence.

    By gaining agreement from all involved parties, teams can ensure that everyone is on board with the proposed improvements and understands their significance. This alignment fosters collaboration, encourages engagement, and minimizes resistance to change, ultimately leading to more successful and sustainable organisational improvements.

    21 min
  • S1E28 Kanban Principles #1: Start from what you do now

    In the opening episode of our six-part series, Soma and Orod delve into the fundamental principles of Kanban Change Management and Kanban Service Delivery.

    We kick off by explaining the cornerstone principle: 'Start with what you do now.' Understanding the current process lays the groundwork for designing solutions that effectively address underlying issues. The essence of the Kanban Method lies in its non-prescriptive approach; rather than dictating change, it encourages the evolution of existing processes.

    18 min
  • S1E27 How to improve team performance with Lead Time

    In this episode of Kanban Lab, where our dynamic hosts, Soma Mazumder and Orod Semsarzadeh, dive deep into the world of Lead Time and its transformative impact on team performance, predictability, and customer satisfaction.

    📈 Exploring Lead Time Distribution Charts:
    In this episode, our hosts will unravel the mysteries behind Lead Time Distribution charts. Gain insights into how these charts serve as invaluable tools for understanding the flow of work within your teams.
    🚀 Leveraging Lead Time for Team Performance:
    Discover the secrets of utilising Lead Time metrics to supercharge your team's performance. Learn how to identify bottlenecks, streamline processes, and optimize workflows for maximum efficiency.
    🔮 Lead Time Predictability:
    Soma and Orod will guide you through the fascinating realm of Lead Time predictability. Uncover strategies to enhance forecasting accuracy and make informed decisions that positively impact project timelines.
    🌐 Improving Team Agility and Customer Satisfaction:
    Learn the art of harnessing Lead Time to boost team agility. Explore real-world examples of how reducing Lead Time can directly translate into increased customer satisfaction and building lasting relationships with your clients.


    Read more here

    28 min
  • S1E26 How to measure team performance?

    In this episode, join Orod and Soma as they delve into the pivotal realm of measuring team performance. Unravelling the mysteries surrounding this common query, our hosts spotlight Lead Time as the key metric in Kanban. Tune in to discover not only how to measure it effectively but also how leveraging Lead Time can propel organisations towards enhanced agility and improved customer satisfaction.

    22 min
  • S1E25 Expedite is (NOT) evil

    Many people perceive the Expedite swimlane as problematic, often labelling it as 'evil' due to its tendency to expedite everything.

    In this episode, Orod and Soma delve into the concept of Expedite, shedding light on how your system performs.
    If you've got too many rushed tasks, it means your system is pretty unstable. Just getting rid of the swimlane doesn't fix the issue; it just hides it.

    24 min
  • S1E24 - What is the right WIP limit?

    People frequently ask about the ideal WIP limit, suggesting that one work per person is the standard.

    In this episode, Orod and Soma delve into the significance of WIP limits, how they can help improve the flow, and explore various approaches to determine the optimal number of works in progress.

    22 min

About Kanban Lab

From the publisher's feed

In each episode, we'll pick a common question and dive into a different aspect of Kanban, exploring its principles, practices, and applications and answering that question.