CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005)Project Management ConceptsMedium
A project team is using a Kanban board to manage their workflow. They notice a significant backlog of tasks in the 'Testing' column, while the 'Development' column often has idle team members. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action a project manager should recommend?
- AMove some developers to assist with testing tasks.
- BIncrease the Work In Progress (WIP) limit for the 'Development' column.
- CAdd more tasks to the 'Development' column to keep developers busy.
- DReduce the WIP limit for the 'Testing' column.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Move some developers to assist with testing tasks.
The core principle of Kanban is to optimize flow and reduce bottlenecks. If 'Testing' is a bottleneck and 'Development' has idle capacity, cross-functional support (developers assisting with testing) is the most effective immediate action to balance the workflow and improve overall throughput.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Increasing WIP in 'Development' would exacerbate the 'Testing' bottleneck.
- C. Adding more tasks to 'Development' will only increase the backlog for 'Testing' later.
- D. Reducing the WIP limit for 'Testing' might prevent new items from entering, but it doesn't resolve the current bottleneck or utilize idle capacity.
Kanban Bottleneck Management
The process of identifying and addressing constraints in a Kanban workflow to improve flow, typically by shifting resources or adjusting WIP limits.
- Bottlenecks indicate a stage where work accumulates.
- Limiting WIP helps expose bottlenecks.
- Cross-functional teamwork is key to resolving bottlenecks.
Memory trick: Kanban's flow is smooth when bottlenecks are removed, like clearing a traffic jam.