How a Kanban Board Accelerates Projects in...
What Is a WIP Limit and Why Do You Need It?
A WIP (Work In Progress) limit is a cap on the number of tasks that can simultaneously reside at a specific stage of your workflow (e.g., “In Progress,” “In Testing”).
The primary goal of a WIP limit is not to speed up a single task, but to optimize the entire team’s workflow. Without limits, we encounter several problems:
1. Task switching: The more tasks in progress simultaneously, the more often team members must switch context, which reduces efficiency.
2. Hidden bottlenecks: If the “Testing” stage is overloaded, it remains invisible until it becomes critical. WIP limits make this problem visible.
3. Long task cycle times: Tasks can linger in the process for weeks, even though they’re formally being worked on.
How Do WIP Limits Create Predictability?
How to Implement WIP Limits Correctly?
- Start with observation. Analyze your current board. At which stages do tasks get stuck most often? What’s the average number of tasks in progress?
- Set limits experimentally. Begin with your current average task count and gradually reduce the limit while observing the effect.
- Be flexible with rules. Allow limit violations in exceptional cases—but only after team-wide discussion and agreement. This must be a conscious decision, not a habit.
Conclusion
WIP limits aren’t about rigid control—they’re about creating a system that helps teams self-organize and work more effectively. They replace chaotic “speed” with managed, predictable “flow velocity.” This isn’t magic—it’s a deliberate management tool that makes processes transparent and predictable.
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