Kanban in Action - Part 1 - Learning Kanban

Sep 11, 2026

Kanban in Action provides a structured guide to implementing and improving kanban systems for software and product teams. It introduces Team Kanbaneros, focuses on building effective boards, mapping workflows, and designing clear work-item cards. The book explains workflow visualization, key kanban principles, work in process (WIP) and how excessive WIP harms delivery. It then shows how to limit WIP, manage flow, and use metrics to guide continuous improvement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages361

Reading Time2 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

PART 1 LEARNING KANBAN

1 Team Kanbaneros gets started

2 Understanding kanban

3 Visualizing your work

4 Work items

5 Work in process

6 Limiting work in process

7 Managing flow

M A N N I N G Marcus Hammarberg Joakim Sundén FOREWORD BY Jim Benson [www.it-ebooks.info](www.it-ebooks.info) Kanban in Action [www.it-ebooks.info](www.it-ebooks.info) [www.it-ebooks.info](www.it-ebooks.info) Kanban in Action MARCUS HAMMARBERG JOAKIM SUNDÉN MANNING SHELTER ISLAND [www.it-ebooks.info](www.it-ebooks.info) For online information and ordering of this and other Manning books, please visit [www.manning.com](www.manning.com. The publisher offers discounts on this book when ordered in quantity)[. The publisher offers discounts on this book when ordered in quantity](www.manning.com. The publisher offers discounts on this book when ordered in quantity). For more information, please contact Special Sales Department Manning Publications Co. 20 Baldwin Road PO Box 261 Shelter Island, NY 11964 Email: [orders@manning.com](orders@manning.com) ©2014 by Manning Publications Co. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in the book, and Manning Publications was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial caps or all caps. Recognizing the importance of preserving what has been written, it is Manning’s policy to have the books we publish printed on acid-free paper, and we exert our best efforts to that end. Recognizing also our responsibility to conserve the resources ofour planet, Manning books are printed on paper that is at least 15 percent recycled and processed without elemental chlorine. Manning Publications Co. Development editors: Beth Lexleigh, Cynthia Kane 20 Baldwin Road Copyeditor: Melinda Rankin PO Box 261 Proofreader: Tiffany Taylor Shelter Island, NY 11964 Typesetter: Marija Tudor Cover designer: Marija Tudor ISBN: 9781617291050 Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 – MAL – 19 18 17 16 15 14 [www.it-ebooks.info](www.it-ebooks.info) brief contents PART 1 LEARNING KANBAN ...................................................... 1 1 ■ Team Kanbaneros gets started 3 PART 2 UNDERSTANDING KANBAN ......................................... 45 2 ■ Kanban principles 47 3 ■ Visualizing your work 56 4 ■ Work items 70 5 ■ Work in process 92 6 ■ Limiting work in process 109 7 ■ Managing flow 130 PART 3 ADVANCED KANBAN ................................................. 165 8 ■ Classes of service 167 9 ■ Planning and estimating 185 10 ■ Process improvement 216 11 ■ Using metrics to guide improvements 237 12 ■ Kanban pitfalls 270 13 ■ Teaching kanban through games 286 v [www.it-ebooks.info](www.it-ebooks.info) [www.it-ebooks.info](www.it-ebooks.info) contents foreword xiii preface xvii about this book xix about the authors xxiii about the cover illustration xxv acknowledgments xxvi PART1 LEARNING KANBAN .......................................... 1 1 Team Kanbaneros gets started 3 1.1 Introductions 5 1.2 The board 8 1.3 Mapping the workflow 12 1.4 Work items 18 1.5 Pass the Pennies 22 1.6 Work in process 27 1.7 Expedite items 35 1.8 Metrics 38 1.9 The sendoff 41 1.10 Summary 42 vii [www.it-ebooks.info](www.it-ebooks.info) viii PART 2 23 4 5 CONTENTS UNDERSTANDING KANBAN . ............................. 45 Kanban principles 47 2.1 The principles of kanban 49 2.2 Get started right away 53 2.3 Summary 55 Visualizing your work 56 3.1 Making policies explicit 58 Information radiator 59 3.2 The kanban board 63 The board 63 ■ Mapping your workflow to the board 66 3.3 Queues 67 3.4 Summary 69 Work items 70 4.1 Design principles for creating your cards 72 Facilitate decisi

FAQs

What is Team Kanbaneros and how does it help teams get started?

Team Kanbaneros provides a practical starting point for adopting kanban. It guides teams through setting up the board, mapping the workflow, and defining work items.

How does kanban define and manage work in process (WIP)?

Work in process represents the amount of work actively in progress. The approach emphasizes understanding WIP effects and reducing excessive WIP through limits and clearer policies.

Why is limiting WIP important for improving delivery?

Limiting WIP reduces context switching, delays, and overhead while lowering the risk of rework and maintaining quality. It also helps teams stay motivated by enabling smoother flow.

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Lucas Vance