Comments for Personal Kanban

Comment on Slack: Why Limit WIP Series, Post 3 by ingvald

ingvald — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:24:02 +0000

slack caused by limiting WIP is also a way to get systematic, continuous improvement - it creates opportunities for improvement without needing to schedule them. this is maybe more relevant in a team context, though.

Comment on Why Not a WIP of One?: Why Limit WIP Series, Post 2 by Tobias Mayer

Tobias Mayer — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:40:35 +0000

Thanks Jim. That makes sense. I guess the Pen is like the section I name Blocked, basically a cordoned off section of WIP (after all, it is still technically in progress, i.e. started and incomplete). It is at the bottom of the column to take it out of my face. Typically, where does the Pen section sit on your pk board?

For team/org use it is useful information to see how many items are blocked and dependent on outside actions. This is information teams can use to demonstrate dysfunction (lack of focus) to management.

Comment on Why Not a WIP of One?: Why Limit WIP Series, Post 2 by Jim Benson

Jim Benson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:46:48 +0000

Tobias,

Yes, that’s what we use The Pen for. There will be a future post on The Pen. This series has over a dozen planned entries.

When there is a task that is specifically on-hold while waiting for an external resource, we use The Pen. Which sounds like it works perfectly for your ticket-task.

The big difference is that it’s based on, as you say, a dependency – and not simply setting it aside to work on something else.

“Blocked” is okay, but can cause clutter when a task is waiting on a long review cycle. For example, one of my tasks in The Pen is, “Get response from IRS”. That’s been waiting (no joke) for eight solid months. I did receive a letter from them last month saying, “we aren’t responding to you yet.”

Jim

Comment on Why Not a WIP of One?: Why Limit WIP Series, Post 2 by Jim Benson

Jim Benson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:42:12 +0000

Samuel, those are definitely on the list for the next video. Especially the audio issue.

Comment on Just Released: Why Plans Fail: Cognitive Bias, Decision Making, and Your Business. by Jim Benson

Jim Benson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:38:12 +0000

I know, they make that very unclear. I’m especially annoyed when they say “any kindle device” but don’t make it clear that kindle clients are not a kindle device.

Comment on Why Not a WIP of One?: Why Limit WIP Series, Post 2 by Samuel A. Falvo II

Samuel A. Falvo II — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:25:44 +0000

Just a comment concerning the quality of the video — the lighting makes it hard to see as you transition from a bright to dark whiteboard and vice versa. Also, the audio is pretty badly over-driven.

I’d say, fix those two items, and you’ve got a winning video combination.

Comment on Just Released: Why Plans Fail: Cognitive Bias, Decision Making, and Your Business. by Gil Friend

Gil Friend — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:44:44 +0000

Free if you have Prime AND a Kindle. Not for any other device.

Comment on Why Not a WIP of One?: Why Limit WIP Series, Post 2 by Tobias Mayer

Tobias Mayer — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:40:56 +0000

Sometimes tasks that have dependencies on outside forces simply get stuck. In such a case should we break the stuck task into two parts, that which is done and that which isn’t, or leave it hanging, reducing our active WIP to 2? Right now I have a task that says “deal with traffic ticket” this particular ticket meant I needed to make a change to my vehicle and then get it signed off by the local police. I made the change, then went to the police station. It was closed. I went back the next day. Also closed. This time I clocked the opening times (!) but haven’t been able to get back during their opening hours. The task has sat in WIP since then (five days). I could break it into two tasks 1) make the vehicle change (done and 2) get sign off (not done) but isn’t this another form of “cheating”? The task has no value until both parts are done. I have simply marked it “blocked” thus allowing me to have three active tasks in WIP. Why might this be bad?

Comment on Pomodoro Daisuki–Session Based Personal Kanban and Pomodoro by Jim Benson

Jim Benson — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:00:59 +0000

@Flavin … I am thrilled to put that comment up. Thanks so much. … but it says “opps”!

But I love this bit of the internet. Giving a quick suggestion and having it implemented immediately. Very cool.

Comment on Pomodoro Daisuki–Session Based Personal Kanban and Pomodoro by Flavin

Flavin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:18:48 +0000

As you mentioned it in your article, rhe developer added the “oops” button a couple days ago.