Image: Elnur/Shutterstock
I’m late to the party. Way late. This was mostly by design. What I do for a living isn’t something that typically benefits from the likes of project management tools. But then I was tasked with covering kanban boards and discovered the tool isn’t just for software engineers and project managers.
Jump to:
SEE: The future of work: Tools and strategies for the digital workplace (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
It took me maybe two days to find a kanban solution I could tweak just right to fit my needs. So instead of statuses like New, Ready, In Progress, Ready for Test, Done and Archived, I could use Idea, First Draft, Beta Readers, First Round Edits, Second Round Edits, Third Round Edits, Proof Reading and Sent to Publisher. Once I had that setup, the “Ah-ha” light went off over my head and I realized why so many people around the globe depend upon such tools.
They make work and life a lot more productive.
A lot.
Seriously.
It’s not just about productivity, but also about accuracy, accountability, trackability and organization. As someone who tends to have several writing projects going at once, it can sometimes get a bit confusing as to which project is in which state. By using a kanban board, I can now tell exactly where each book is in its workflow, who has the manuscript and what’s left to be done. I can also get a better idea as to when one project might be finished and how far other projects are from that state.
It all makes so much sense now.
I used to believe kanban boards were designed for managers who liked to get way too micro with their staff and task them into oblivion, take control of their every working moment, and have the ability to hold feet to fire when one area of a project had fallen behind.
Now, I understand this methodology is more about empowering the users, be they developers, designers, data analysts, admins or support. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what position you hold. You don’t even have to be employed by a company or employed at all to benefit from a kanban.
Consider these:
- A kanban chore board.
- A kanban cooking board.
- A kanban study board.
- A kanban writing board.
- A kanban board for fantasy sports.
This list can go on and on. In fact, if you can break a task down into constituent parts, chances are good you can use a kanban board.
SEE: Taiga Project Management: Open-source Kanban board is packed with features for developers and non-devs alike (TechRepublic)
What is a kanban board?
Before I continue, let’s answer this simple question because not everyone comes into this in the know. Kanban means signboard and is a lean method to manage and improve work across systems that depend on humans. Items for tasks are visualized to give those involved a view of the progress of the task.
Imagine a spreadsheet that is divided into columns like this:
| Beginning | In progress | Peer review | Testing | Done | Archived |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | |||||
| Task 2 | |||||
| Task 3 | |||||
| Task 4 |
Each column represents a state for each task. On the far left is where each task begins and on the far right is where each is completed. As you can see we have four tasks (1, 2, 3 and 4), each of which is in a different state. Task 1 is in Testing, Task 2 is in Beginning, Task 3 is in Peer Review and Task 4 is Done. You can quickly see, at-a-glance, where each task stands in its workflow.
Let’s make this more relatable.
| Chore | Assigned | In progress | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | |||
| Dishes | |||
| Homework | |||
| Trash |
So the bathroom chore hasn’t been assigned, the dishes task has been assigned, trash is in progress and homework is done. A parent could look at that kanban board and know exactly where chores stand every day.
That’s progress.
That’s efficiency.
That’s effective.
Why it took me this long to realize that kanban can apply to just about anything is beyond me. And now that so many people are working from home, without the added bonus of a manager looking over their shoulders at all times, some might need a bit of help staying focused on the lifecycle of a task.
The benefits of using a kanban board
Yes, kanban boards are typically employed by software developers and managers. But given how flexible most kanban platforms are, they can be made useful for any task, team or topic. The benefits of kanban include:
- Better visualization of workflow.
- Improved efficiency.
- Improved collaboration.
- Increased and balanced productivity.
- Avoid over tasking team members.
- Increased focus.
- Waste reduction.
- Flexibility.
- Better time management.
- Empowers users.
- Better resource allocation.
Not every benefit will apply to every situation, but that shortlist alone should have you seriously reconsidering your stance that kanban isn’t the tool for you. Chances are good a kanban board would make your life easier.
Leading project management tools
1 Domo
Build a modern business, driven by data. Connect to any data source to bring your data together into one unified view, then make analytics available to drive insight-based actions—all while maintaining security and control. Domo serves enterprise customers in all industries looking to manage their entire organization from a single platform.
2 Microsoft Project
Delivered through Microsoft’s Office 365, Project Online with Project Pro is capable of being utilized online from nearly any location on a variety of devices, as well as in a desktop environment. This project portfolio management software solution offers a variety of features and capabilities including work management, demand management, portfolio analytics, resource management, scheduling, financial management, collaboration, risk management, reporting, and business intelligence.
3 Cornerstone
Cornerstone is a configurable platform that offers organizations a fully integrated talent management suite designed to ensure that the business can recruit, train, and effectively manage all of their valuable human capital. Cornerstone OnDemand includes powerful functions for Applicant Tracking, Recruiting, Onboarding, Learning Management, Performance Reviews, Competency Management, Compensation Management, and Succession Planning.
4 Workfront
Workfront is designed to help enterprise companies improve the efficiency of their project process management through streamlining every aspect of a company’s projects. An agile, next-generation solution, Workfront portfolio management software improves collaboration and workflows through features including: centralized request management, automatic approval routing, time sheets and time tracking reports, social media integration, native mobile apps and more.
I’m not here to sell you on any given kanban board solution. Although I’ve found the one that works for me , your needs and demands will vary. What I’m here to do is shrug off that cloud of mystery that may or may not surround kanban boards for you. If you’re like me, you’ve ignored these tools, because they simply didn’t apply to your situation. But if you struggle to manage any kind of task or have become so busy you could use a bit of help keeping your workflow organized, a kanban board might be just the thing. And it doesn’t matter if you’re a part of a team or a one-person show, kanban boards can still help. Although I do work directly with editors, they don’t necessarily have to know where any given manuscript or article is in its lifecycle. I, on the other hand, do. And given how much I write, having something to keep me on task and organized has been a real eye-opener.
If you’ve not given a kanban board consideration, do so. Your daily life will thank you.
Subscribe to TechRepublic’s How To Make Tech Work on YouTube for all the latest tech advice for business pros from Jack Wallen.
Daily Tech Insider Newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest in technology with Daily Tech Insider. We bring you news on industry-leading companies, products, and people, as well as highlighted articles, downloads, and top resources. You’ll receive primers on hot tech topics that will help you stay ahead of the game.
Delivered Weekdays
