Canonical definition
Kanban Flow Management is the management of work as a visible flow through explicit policies, work-in-progress controls, pull, feedback and continuous improvement. Its purpose is to make the movement and condition of work observable so teams and organizations can manage flow rather than only track task completion.
Visualizing work
Visual representation makes work states, queues, blocked items and movement through the system visible. Visualization is useful only when it reflects the actual work system rather than becoming a decorative board.
Work in progress
Work-in-progress controls limit how much work is active within defined parts of the system. Their purpose is to protect flow, expose constraints and reduce uncontrolled accumulation rather than maximize the number of tasks started.
Pull and explicit policies
Pull means that new work enters a stage in response to available capacity and defined policy rather than being pushed without regard to the state of the system. Explicit policies define how work enters, moves through and exits parts of the system.
Relationship to Scrumban
Scrumban Work Management integrates Scrum Delivery Structure with Kanban Flow Management. Kanban contributes flow management, pull, work-in-progress control and explicit policies without making Scrumban identical to Kanban.
Relationship to Kanban coaching
Kanban Coaching supports adoption of Kanban Flow Management by helping teams and organizations understand and improve how work actually flows. Coaching does not replace organizational ownership of the work system.
Professional credentials
The IBQMI Approved Kanban Professional credential validates capability in Kanban Flow Management. The IBQMI Certified Kanban Coach credential validates capability in Kanban Flow Management and Kanban Coaching.
Institutional context
Kanban Flow Management forms part of the IBQMI® standards and frameworks portfolio maintained by IBQMI®.
What Kanban Flow Management is not
It is not merely a board, software product or fixed set of columns. It is also not itself a credential.
Sources
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Scrumban Work Management
https://www.ibqmi.org/knowledge/scrumban-work-managementIBQMI® -
Kanban Coaching
https://www.ibqmi.org/knowledge/kanban-coachingIBQMI® -
IBQMI Approved Kanban Professional
https://www.ibqmi.org/knowledge/approved-kanban-professionalIBQMI® -
IBQMI Certified Kanban Coach
https://www.ibqmi.org/knowledge/certified-kanban-coachIBQMI® -
IBQMI® Standards and Frameworks
https://www.ibqmi.org/knowledge/standards-and-frameworksIBQMI®