Commonly Used Metrics in Kanban

There are four metrics in Kanban which are used to build and break the workflow. These four key metrics are mentioned below:

1. Lead Time

The Lead Time refers to the time measure, whenever a new task of software development is added to the Kanban board to the point when the team marks the tasks as a complete task. Therefore, it gauges the total time, that a task takes to travel through the whole Kanban workflow. For the project managers, this metric is pivotal as it provides a detailed view of how much time a task takes within the system, which initially allows the teams for effective planning.

2. Cycle Time

In the Kanban workflow, the cycle time zooms in the “active work” stage. It refers to the measuring time when a team member begins a task till the team member completes it. In case, if someone doesn’t start a particular task for several months after the creation, the cycle time only begins when the task moves into the active workflow. This time can also represent whether the team members are working effectively or not.

3. Work-in-progress (WIP)

In the Kanban system, the work-in-progress refers to the time when the number of tasks which are currently in the “in-progress” stage. In this stage, at any time it measures the volume of the ongoing work by providing a snapshot of tasks which are neither in the backlog nor in the complete phase. Monitoring the work-in-progress is important as it helps to balance the workload of the teams and also identify the bottlenecks.

4. Throughput

Throughput refers to the time frame in which the total number of tasks items the team members complete successfully. It is used to measure the productivity of the team during that particular time. This metric is useful because it shows the level of productivity in the team which allows us to make right decisions for the tasks which need to be assigned in the future. Whenever it is combined with the lead time and cycle time, throughput can increase the forecasting accuracy of how much work the team can deliver effectively.

Kanban metrics offer a window into the team’s workflow, which is used to identify where improvements need to be made. These Kanban metrics are important because they serve as a navigation tool that initially helps to make informed decisions about the topics related to setting the deadlines and allocation of the required resources. In this article, detailed knowledge is provided about the key metrics, the important types of key metrics, and the tools that are used in the Kanban System.