Top 25 Kanban Interview Questions and Answers

The Interviewer wants to know if you understand the basic concept of Kanban and can succinctly define it. 

Sample Answer: Kanban is a visual workflow management framework primarily aimed at improving efficiency across tasks. It uses cards and boards to visualise work at various stages of the process, enabling effective tracking and management. 

The Interviewer wants to know whether you can identify and explain the advantages that Kanban brings to Project Management. 

Sample Answer: The main Benefits of Kanban include increased productivity and efficiency, reduced Cycle Time, and the flexibility to adapt to changes. It promotes continuous collaboration and reduces the waste of resources, making processes leaner and more responsive. 

The Interviewer wants to check if you know about specialised tools or adaptations of Kanban boards for specific roles within an industry. 

Sample Answer: In the gaming industry, programmers and testers often use Kanban boards that are segmented into phases such as pre-development, development, testing, and post-release. These boards are tailored to track the progress of game development cycles and bug fixes efficiently. 

The Interviewer wants to test your awareness of the core principles that underpin Kanban. 

Sample Answer: A core principle of Kanban is the visualisation of work to restrict tasks in progress. This approach allows teams to concentrate on current tasks without becoming overloading, thereby improving workflow and minimising bottlenecks. 

The Interviewer wants to understand if you recognise how Kanban's visual nature impacts Project Management. 

Sample Answer: Kanban enhances visibility by displaying all tasks on the board at various stages of completion, which allows for real-time progress tracking and immediate identification of bottlenecks. This transparency helps teams adjust workflows dynamically and manage priorities more effectively. 

The Interviewer wants to know how Kanban integrates with Lean methodologies to foster ongoing enhancements. 

Sample Answer: Kanban supports Lean's continuous improvement by encouraging incremental updates to processes and reducing waste through constant monitoring and adjustment of workflows. It promotes a culture of feedback and iterative improvement, which aligns with Lean’s emphasis on efficiency and quality. 

Track progress and effectiveness of work efforts with our Kanban Training! 

The Interviewer wants to know your ability to compare these two popular Agile methodologies. 

Sample Answer: Scrum is structured around fixed-length sprints and defined roles, whereas Kanban is more flexible, with no set timeframes and an emphasis on continuous delivery. Unlike Scrum, Kanban focuses on completing tasks at a steady pace without the need for regular sprint reviews and retrospectives. 

The Interviewer intends to find out if you understand the additional tools that can be integrated with Kanban to enhance its functionality. 

Sample Answer: A time tracker in a Kanban system provides insights into how long tasks take to complete, which helps in identifying process inefficiencies and planning capacity. It allows teams to better estimate timelines and improve workload management through more accurate data analysis. 

This question is designed to test your understanding of key performance indicators (KPIs) in Kanban. 

Sample Answer: Cycle Time is the total time taken to complete a work item from start to finish, which helps in measuring the efficiency of the workflow. Throughput, on the other hand, refers to the number of work items completed in a given time period, which indicates the productivity of the team. 

The Interviewer wants to see if you can conceptualise and describe a fundamental Kanban setup. 

Sample Answer: A basic Kanban board might include columns for "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done." Each task or project component is represented by a card that moves from left to right as it progresses through these stages, visually tracking the flow of work through each phase. 

The Interviewer wants to know your knowledge of managing complex tasks that depend on each other within the Kanban framework. 

Sample Answer: Cards can be interconnected in a Kanban system using dependencies, which are visual links that show when one task cannot start until another is completed. This helps in planning and managing the workflow, ensuring that all dependent tasks are aligned and prioritised accordingly. 

The Interviewer wants to know your understanding of the analytical capabilities of Kanban tools. 

Sample Answer: Kanban analytics provide data on metrics such as Lead Time, Cycle Time, work in progress, and throughput rates. These metrics help teams analyse their efficiency, identify issues, and make informed decisions to optimise their processes. 

The Interviewer aims to assess whether you understand the role of a backlog within a Kanban system. 

Sample Answer: In Kanban, the backlog serves as the pool of tasks that need to be addressed but have not yet been started. It allows teams to prioritise work effectively, pulling tasks into the workflow as capacity allows, which helps maintain a steady flow of work. 

The Interviewer wants to know if you can advocate for Kanban's effectiveness in project management. 

Sample Answer: Kanban is effective in project management because it provides a visual overview of work status, fosters continuous delivery, and allows for flexible prioritisation of tasks without the constraints of sprints. This adaptability makes it ideal for projects where requirements evolve frequently. 

The Interviewer wants to evaluate your comprehension of Lean principles as they apply to efficiency and waste reduction. 

Sample Answer: The eight types of waste according to Lean are defects, overproduction, waiting, non-utilised talent, transportation, inventory excess, motion waste, and extra processing. Recognising these wastes helps teams in identifying inefficiencies and improving their processes. 

The Interviewer wants to check your practical knowledge of tracking and managing progress in Kanban. 

Sample Answer: The most effective method for monitoring progress in Kanban is to use cumulative flow diagrams and other real-time visual metrics that track the stages of tasks and overall workflow health. These tools help identify bottlenecks and ensure the work is moving smoothly through the system. 

Boost your Project Management skills with our Certified Kanban Practitioner Course – join today! 

The Interviewer is inquiring about your technical knowledge regarding the integration of project management software with Kanban. 

Sample Answer: Yes, it is feasible to generate Kanban labels directly from Trac tickets by using plugins or API integrations that sync the two systems. This allows for a seamless transition of issues and tasks from Trac into the Kanban board, enhancing tracking and management. 

The Interviewer wants to evaluate your familiarity with these critical time metrics in Kanban. 

Sample Answer: Cycle Time refers to the amount of time it takes to complete a task once work has begun, while Lead Time measures the duration from when a task is requested to when it is fully completed. Understanding the distinction helps in managing customer expectations and improving process efficiency. 

The Interviewer tests your knowledge of Lean tools and how they are applied to analyse and improve processes. 

Sample Answer: Value Stream Mapping serves as a Lean management tool that aids in visualising and comprehending the flow of materials and information as a product progresses through the value stream. It identifies waste and provides insights into streamlining processes to optimise the overall flow and increase value to the customer. 

The Interviewer wants to check your familiarity with advanced Kanban tools and their functionalities. 

Sample Answer: In Kanban, "Power-Ups" are additional features or tools that enhance the basic board capabilities, such as adding analytics, automation, or integration with other software. Examples include calendar views, automation of repetitive tasks, and enhanced collaboration tools that can be tailored to specific team needs. 

The Interviewer aims to know your understanding of how specific analytical tools are used in Kanban to improve process flow. 

Sample Answer: A Cumulative Flow Diagram (CFD) provides a graphical representation of the different stages of tasks in a project over time, helping to identify where work is piling up or stalling. By analysing the diagram, teams can quickly pinpoint process bottlenecks and take corrective actions to ensure smoother workflow. 

The Interviewer wants to know your grasp of theoretical concepts that underpin workflow management practices like Kanban. 

Sample Answer: Little’s Law is a mathematical theorem that describes the long-term relationship between the number of items in a queuing system, their average wait time, and the average completion rate. In Kanban, it is used to predict the relationship between work in progress, Cycle Time, and Throughput, aiding in balancing workloads and predicting delivery times. 

Elevate your workflow with our Certified Kanban Foundation Course – join today! 

The Interviewer intends to explore your understanding of hybrid Agile methodologies and when they might be more advantageous. 

Sample Answer: Scrumban might be preferred over Kanban in environments where the flexibility of Kanban needs to be supplemented with the structured planning and iteration reviews of Scrum. It is particularly beneficial in projects that start with uncertain requirements but need to evolve into a regular release schedule, providing a blend of flexibility and predictability. 

The Interviewer wants to check your practical skills in managing workflow, particularly in handling setbacks or issues. 

Sample Answer: Items that fail testing should be placed in a specific "Re-testing" or "Issues" column on a Kanban board, which signals that these items need further attention before they can move forward. This helps keep the workflow organised and ensures that issues are addressed promptly and systematically. 

The Interviewer wants to check your familiarity with the digital tools used in Kanban and their specific functionalities. 

Sample Answer: Online Kanban platforms provide features like real-time collaboration, version control, and integration with project management tools. These functionalities enable smooth updates and sharing of information among teams, ensuring everyone stays aligned and has access to the latest project documents and task statuses.