Comments on: Kanban is just a tool, so why is it being treated like a methodology?

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:34:04 +0000

Also agree. Kanban is just a tool, but for me quite powerful one. It eliminates lots of barriers and forces the work to flow. I’m using http://kanbantool.com

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:01:18 +0000

Agreed. some times if a tool or a project gets more popularity and its too good ot be used by many people then it is been considered as Mehtodology.

By: Paul Boos

Paul Boos — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:32 +0000

One interesting thing is Kanban as a technique with a physical board allows viualization around things such as value mapping, pull systems, queing that makes it central to getting started. It makes a nice intro into Lean and Agile thinking as you learn by doing and its entry is very low barrier. Just my 2 cents…

Paul

By: links for 2009-09-12 « Csom Gyula Blogja

links for 2009-09-12 « Csom Gyula Blogja — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:04:09 +0000

[...] rob bowley – adventures in software craftsmanship » Blog Archive » Kanban is just a tool, so… (tags: Lean Kanban) [...]

By: A Kanban Is Just A Signal To Do Work - new ThoughtStream("Derick Bailey"); -

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:10:13 +0000

[...] board a “kanban board” was a misrepresentation of kanban. Additionally, there’s some interesting banter going around the blogs on kanban as a tool, more than [...]

By: Project Management Tools & Techniques

Project Management Tools & Techniques — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:37:45 +0000

Kanban is a tool, but it's a tool that enables higher productivity. It isn't magic, and it doesn't create new skills or new production -- but it knocks down lots of barriers.

By: Vasco Duarte

Vasco Duarte — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:57:11 +0000

I agree with you that tools without principles cause more problems than they solve (Cargo Cult, etc.).

Maybe we should start writing more about the principles that justify the use of Kanban (the tool).

I’ll try to come up with something on my blog as well…

By: rob

rob — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:38:47 +0000

I’m not “picking” on Kanban I’m simply trying to suggest that all the problems that have come from Scrum being misinterpreted (the ability to avoid dealing with the real issues by focusing on processes and rules) are going to be the same for Kanban if it’s separated from the underlying principles of Lean. I guess that is the pattern – tools without principles are ineffective.

I never meant to get embroiled in a debate about what is and isn’t a methodology, that’s not the point I was trying to make. In hindsight I should have chosen my words more carefully.

By: Vasco Duarte

Vasco Duarte — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:26:46 +0000

I understand the issue you have with Kanban being called a methodology, but why pick on Kanban? Just because it is popular? Scrum is (as it’s proponents say) not a methodology either.

I propose that the discussion about Kanban or Scrum being (or not) a methodology is largely irrelevant. What matters is understanding in what circumstances Scrum/Kanban or other tools/methods/frameworks work and fail.

Do you have patterns or anecdotes (waiting to be developed into patterns) that shed insights into why these methods/tools/frameworks fail?

By: It is Not What It is that Really Matters « The Agile Executive

It is Not What It is that Really Matters « The Agile Executive — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:50:11 +0000

[...] a comment » Rob Bowley wrote a thoughtful post entitled Kanban it just a tool, so why is it being treated like a methodology? To quote Rob: The [...]