Kanbanize
Kanbanize is an online service from BusinessMap for the visualization of dependencies and work flows within a company.
Background and purpose
The goal of the Kanbanize software is to combine the principles of Lean and Kanban with the methods of portfolio management , workflow analysis and automated business rules. It is intended to help organizations visualize significant initiatives and break them down into smaller projects.
The workflow can be represented and optimized both on the operational and on the strategic level within an organization.
Kanbanize offers tools such as scatter diagrams or cycle time histograms to analyze the workflow . These can be used for the representation of dependency structures between different characteristics or for the visualization of frequency distributions. The analyzes should lead to the creation of transparency of the internal processes and to an increase of the efficiency in organizational units.
In the background of the analyzes are the well-known lean methods such as the 5 whys, the A3 problem solving, the just-in-time principle , pull systems , the 5S principle and the 7 types of waste according to Taiichi Ohno .
Company and history
BusinessMap was founded in 2008 by Dimitar Karaivanov (CEO), Christo Stalev (CTO) and Bisser Ivanov (CCO). The company's management team consists of the three founders and is currently supported in an advisory position by the investors Christoph Rohland, Daniel Tomov and Vassil Terziev.
The company should stand for the values of simplicity , productivity and efficiency .
The products should be continuously developed according to the principle of continuous improvement . The currently most successful product is the Kanbanize software
Product description
Kanbanize combines the functions of lean project management , IT services, software development, lean product development and agile marketing. The Kanbanize software can be used in the company to evaluate work processes and project success.
Functions
Kanban boards
The main function of Kanbanize is the mapping and management of processes using so-called Kanban boards .
For a better representation of a process, different hierarchy levels can be created and individual Kanbanize boards can be generated. Each Kanbanize board consists of different columns and rows (so-called. Swimlanes ). Individual activities in a process or project are mapped on the board using Kanbanize cards. For this purpose, users create individual cards in the rows and move them from column to column in the course of the project. Several columns can be combined to represent any process phase.
To ensure transparency in the process, the number of Kanbanize cards generated can be limited on each board. In addition, it is possible to assign authorizations among the users and to activate various filters when viewing a board.
It is possible to create your own templates to create the Kanbanize cards. In addition, the cards can be provided with deadlines in order to remind the user of the due date of an activity by means of an e-mail notification.
Map linking
Often further sub-projects arise in the course of the project. Or different tasks within the scope of a project should be disclosed and assigned to all project participants. For this reason, Kanbanize offers its users the opportunity to link cards.
| Link type | meaning |
| Parent-child relationship | A parent card can have several child cards, for example different task cards (child cards) can be assigned to a large project (parent card). |
| predecessor | In this way, for example, a mandatory process sequence between the various cards can be created. The task defined on the Kanbanize card may only be started when, for example, the predecessor has been completed. |
| successor | In this way, for example, a mandatory process sequence can be defined between the different cards. For example, after completing a task, a defined task must be started. |
| Belonging | Two Kanbanize cards with an "Associated" link are linked to one another, but are not on two different levels. |
| Mirror cards | The link mirror cards describes a link between two identical cards. The advantage of this link is that a card can be stored on different boards. If the status of a card changes, this process is automatically carried out for the linked cards. |
Business rules
Business rules are used to automatically execute actions in Kanbanize when certain events have occurred. The following table shows an excerpt of possible business rules:
| Business rule | description |
| Map is being created | This rule triggers a predefined action when map is created. |
| Create recurring cards | Frequently required maps can be created automatically with the help of the rule |
| Map is being updated | An individual notification is sent to a defined group of users as soon as a map has been updated |
| Recurring map updates | This is to ensure that all cards are in the correct position and do not need to be checked manually |
| Map will be updated via email | This rule allows a map to be updated via email |
| Children's card is blocked | The user is notified when a message marked as a child card has been blocked |
| Related card is moved | A task is automatically moved between teams to allow synchronization. |
| Time-based rule | This rule reminds the user of a deadline or a time-based event |
Analysis tool
Using the analysis tool integrated in Kanbanize, it is possible to determine key figures from the cards created and their length of stay in a specific column of the Kanbanize board. For example, this function can be used to draw conclusions about productivity or the risk of bottlenecks .
Email integration
By integrating the e-mail function in Kanbanize, it is possible to create cards on the boards by e-mail or to edit or comment on them in the further course of the project.
Time tracking
In order to get an overview of the working times in the project or process shown, the working times can be recorded in each Kanbanize card. Using other functions integrated in Kanbanize, it is then possible to create work reports and visualize them. In this way, feedback on the time required in the project can be given within a very short time .
Areas of application
The areas of application for the software range from workflow analysis to project planning and monitoring of internal processes.
An exemplary application of the software is the use of the Kanban boards in marketing of an organizational unit . The tasks of a marketing team are very diverse and include a very dynamic workflow. The individual Kanban boards can be distributed here on swim lanes in order to structure the tasks according to their respective focus. The tasks are thus visually divided into different categories such as B. digital marketing or product design can be divided, whereby the distribution of tasks and the processing of these is simplified. Employees can enter the working hours spent on the project in the Kanban boards, so that at the end of the day an overview of the workload for the project can be obtained.
The integrated lean methods enable the software to be used particularly in the area of internal process optimization . On the one hand, key figures such as throughput times or scrap rates can be analyzed. On the other hand, after analyzing the key figures, optimization projects can be created directly in the program. By comparing the two created Kanban boards, it can be checked whether the optimizations have paid off.
Other useful areas of application in companies are support, IT or the development department. The software provides some Kanban board templates for the respective areas to make it easier for the user to use.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Kanban software | Online Kanban for Lean Project Management. Retrieved April 2, 2019 .
- ↑ About Kanbanize - Industry leading Kanban software. Retrieved April 2, 2019 .
- ↑ Kanbanize. Retrieved April 2, 2019 .
- ↑ a b c d e f Kanban system and tools online. Retrieved April 2, 2019 .