Waterfall: The Classic Meets the Visual
Though Waterfall’s step-by-step approach contrasts with Kanban’s fluidity, they can indeed co-exist. Here’s my take:
- Phases Come Alive: Map out Waterfall’s meticulous phases on a Kanban board. It’s a game-changer for visualizing linear processes.
- Milestones at a Glance: Slide tasks across the board as they transition through the Waterfall stages. This real-time movement can help spot potential roadblocks.
Example:
Imagine a tech startup working on a new mobile app. They’re sticking to the Waterfall model’s strict phases: concept, design, coding, testing, and launch. To make the process easy, they bring in Kanban. A Kanban board is set up, each column mirroring a Waterfall phase.
As the app’s concept is fleshed out, cards representing user interface designs and user stories migrate from left to right. The board quickly shows what’s done and what’s pending. Say the ‘Design’ column starts to overflow, this should not happen. The project manager spots it and hustles the team to clear the backlog, avoiding delays before coding even starts.
Waterfall Technique
The diagram depicts a simplified Kanban board aligned with the Waterfall model for software development.
- It is structured into five columns representing the sequential phases of the Waterfall process: ‘Concept’, ‘Design’, ‘Coding’, ‘Testing’, and ‘Launch’.
- Each column contains an equal number of task cards, suggesting a balanced distribution of workload across the stages.
- The minimalist design emphasizes clarity and efficiency in task management without any signs of backlog or delay, allowing for a quick assessment of the project’s current status.
How can Kanban be Integrated with Other Project Management Methodologies?
Kanban is a visual management tool that helps teams track the flow of tasks or items through various process stages. It uses cards placed on a board to represent individual tasks. Have you ever seen one of those boards filled with colorful sticky notes in an office? That might have been a Kanban board. Originating from the Japanese term meaning “signboard,” it offers a hands-on approach to managing tasks.
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