Kanban Essentials
Master flow-based delivery for knowledge work
free · no signup · 4-5 hours · 5 modules · 25 lessons · beginner
What You'll Learn
6 outcomesBy the end of this curriculum, you will be able to:
- Understand Kanban's origins, principles, and philosophy
- Design effective boards with appropriate WIP limits
- Use classes of service and explicit policies
- Measure and improve flow using data-driven metrics
- Implement the cadences that drive continuous improvement
- Know when Kanban is the right fit versus other approaches
Who This Is For
- Teams looking to improve flow and reduce lead times
- Scrum practitioners wanting to add flow-based practices
- Operations and support teams with unpredictable workloads
- Leaders seeking alternatives to ceremony-heavy frameworks
- Anyone curious about Kanban beyond just the board
Curriculum
5 modules · 25 lessons5 modules covering flow theory through continuous improvement
Foundations & Philosophy
50 minUnderstand where Kanban came from, what problems it solves, and the mindset shift required to make it work. This foundation will help you avoid cargo-cult adoption.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the Toyota origins and manufacturing context
- Grasp the key differences between Kanban and Scrum
- Apply evolutionary change principles to your organization
Visualizing Work & Flow
55 minLearn to design boards that reveal how work actually flows through your system. Good visualization makes problems visible before they become crises.
Learning Objectives
- Design a Kanban board that reflects your actual workflow
- Implement work item types and classes of service
- Use swimlanes to organize and prioritize work
Limiting WIP & Pull Systems
55 minThe most counterintuitive Kanban practice: by doing less at once, you finish more overall. Learn the theory and practice of WIP limits and pull-based systems.
Learning Objectives
- Understand why WIP limits improve flow and reduce lead time
- Apply Little's Law to predict and improve delivery
- Set appropriate WIP limits for your context
Metrics & Flow Management
60 minWhat gets measured gets managed. Learn to use flow metrics to identify problems, predict delivery, and demonstrate improvement. These aren't vanity metrics—they're decision-making tools.
Learning Objectives
- Measure and interpret lead time, cycle time, and throughput
- Use Cumulative Flow Diagrams to visualize system health
- Identify and address bottlenecks with data
Cadences & Continuous Improvement
55 minKanban without continuous improvement is just a static board. Learn the feedback loops that drive ongoing evolution: the seven cadences, the STATIK method, and the maturity model that guides your journey.
Learning Objectives
- Implement appropriate Kanban cadences for feedback and improvement
- Apply the STATIK method for organizational Kanban design
- Use the Kanban Maturity Model to guide evolution
Additional Resources
5 referencesRecommended reading and references for deeper learning
Kanban: Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business
bookDavid J. Anderson's foundational text on the Kanban Method for software development.Making Work Visible
bookDominica DeGrandis on exposing time theft and optimizing workflow—highly practical.Essential Kanban Condensed
websiteA free, concise guide to Kanban from Kanban University—great quick reference.The Goal
bookEli Goldratt's novel on Theory of Constraints—the thinking behind bottleneck management.Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability
bookDaniel Vacanti on flow metrics and Monte Carlo forecasting—the data side of Kanban.
Start Your Kanban Journey
This curriculum is completely free. No signup required. Start learning at your own pace and transform how your team manages work.
Start Module 1: Foundations & Philosophy