Kanban Lab

Kanban Lab

By Orod Semsarzadeh & Soma MazumderBusinessManagement
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Kanban Lab episodes

  • S1E23 How to visualise your Blocked items

    It's common for work items to face obstacles for various reasons, and numerous individuals have suggested to Orod the idea of featuring these blocked items in a distinct column on the workflow.

    In this episode, Soma and Orod discuss visualising these blocked items effectively. To address and provide clarity on this matter, they revisit the fundamental definition of a workflow. A workflow illustrates the work progression through the system, with each column representing a stage in the knowledge discovery process. Now, the question arises: is "Blocked" one of these stages? Certainly not. Work can encounter obstacles at any stage of the workflow. "Blocked" serves as the status of the work, and the optimal approach to visualisation involves placing these blocked items in the respective stage where the obstruction occurred, enabling the tracking of the duration they remain blocked.

    20 min
  • S1E17 Unlocking Evolution with Kanban: Exploring the Kanban Maturity Model (KMM) with Anna Radzikowska

    Most people know fundamental Kanban practices such as WIP limits, visualization, and managing flow. However, what remains less widespread is the recognition of Kanban as an evolutionary change methodology.

    In this episode, Orod and Soma engaged in an enlightening conversation with Anna Radzikowska, the Chief Innovation and Improvement Officer (CIIO) at Mauvius Group, the heart of the Kanban Method. Anna elaborated on the concept of KMM (Kanban Maturity Model), describing it as an organisational maturity assessment tool that empowers organisations to craft sustainable solutions for their challenges while progressively enhancing their agility over time.

    47 min
  • S1E22 - Exploring Kanban from Right to Left: A Thoughtful Conversation with Mike Burrows

    In this episode, join Some and Orod as they engage in a thought-provoking conversation with the remarkable Mike Burrows, the visionary founder of Agendashift Academy and the author of "Kanban from the Inside." 📚


    A true inspiration in Kanban training, Mike graciously shares his extensive knowledge and insights on Kanban, shedding light on the significance of fostering complexity-friendly environments. 🌐 Embark on a journey of discovery as they explore the complexity of navigating challenges inherent in a solution-driven mindset. 💡

    42 min
  • S1E21 Kanban is "NOT just" a scheduling system

    Soma came across a LinkedIn post where someone asserted that Kanban is simply a scheduling system.


    In this episode, Orod and Soma delved into the question of whether Kanban is just a scheduling tool that serves as a reminder for project deadlines. They explore how Kanban goes beyond mere scheduling by delivering the right work to customers at the right time through visualising tasks with fixed deadlines, highlighting that it offers more than just a scheduling function.

    17 min
  • S1E20 Kanban is too difficult

    During a recent conversation, someone told Orod their perception that Kanban is too difficult.


    In this episode, Soma and Orod delve into the reasons behind the common belief that Kanban is too complex. Orod underscores that, at times, we tend to overly complicate things, even something as straightforward as Kanban. In reality, Kanban can be as simple as visualising your tasks for personal use or as intricate as mapping out the entire value stream flow.

    22 min
  • S1E19 Kanban increases people utilisation

    Kanban is often misunderstood as a method only focused on increasing people's utilisation, but this belief is just one of the misconceptions surrounding Kanban.

    In this episode, Soma and Orod delve into three essential Kanban practices: setting Work in Progress (WIP) limits, visualising work, and managing flow. Orod highlights that implementing WIP limits sure not to keep people constantly occupied but also allows for necessary slack time, which is crucial for optimizing and improving the system.
    They also shed light on how to measure flow efficiency and explain how the key Kanban metric, Lead Time, can help managers and individuals shift their focus towards outcomes rather than fixating on people's utilisation.

    23 min
  • S1E18 Kanban needs Story Point
    Are Story Points a crucial element in Kanban method? Join us on the latest episode of the Kanban Lab, where hosts Orod and Soma delve deep into the ongoing debate: "Does Kanban need Story Points?"
    In this episode, Soma revisits the definition of Story Points and the role they play in improving communication and alignment within a team when tackling tasks or goals.
    But that's not all! Orod offers an intriguing perspective from the Kanban lens. He emphasizes that in Kanban, a team has the flexibility to estimate task complexity using any unit of measure or even forget estimates entirely. It's all about what works best for your team's unique needs and context.
    If Story Points aren't your cup of tea, don't worry! Orod suggests a fascinating alternative approach that fits perfectly within the Kanban - the Lead Time distribution chart.
    22 min
  • S1E16 Kanban without Kanban Board

    Last week, Chris asked Soma if teams and organizations could practice Kanban without using a Kanban board.


    In this episode, Orod and Soma discuss a fundamental Kanban practice: visualization. They emphasize that, depending on your situation, you don't always need intricate workflow stages displayed in separate columns. However, you should still visually represent the tasks on some form of a board.


    Orod also shares a creative and enjoyable approach he used to introduce Kanban to elementary students, helping them manage their tasks and stay focused.

    23 min
  • S1E15 Comparing Kanban Replenishment Meetings and Sprint Planning: Key Differences and Best Practice

    Soma and Chris discussed the distinctions between Sprint planning and Kanban replenishment.


    In their conversation, Orod and Soma clarified that both Sprint planning and Kanban replenishment aim to commit to work and set expectations for customers. The key difference is that Sprint planning occurs at regular intervals, with the team selecting a batch of work and committing to them, while Kanban replenishment can occur more or less frequently based on your need.

    24 min
  • S1E14 Kanban is an Agile framework?

    Last week, Orod noticed a viral post claiming that Kanban isn't an Agile framework.


    In this episode, Orod and Soma chat about whether Kanban is genuinely an Agile framework, and if this difference really matters.

    24 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.