Engineering
Limit work in progress
Restrict the amount of work in progress to improve focus, reduce context switching, and increase throughput.
Overview
Having too much work in progress (WIP) is inefficient, and delays delivery to production. Context switching between tasks wastes time and increases the chance of mistakes. By limiting the amount of WIP, teams can focus on completing tasks before starting new ones, leading to faster delivery and higher quality outcomes.
How to do it
- Checked item: Identify and fix bottlenecks in your workflow where tasks tend to pile up.
- Checked item: Set explicit WIP limits for different stages of your workflow (e.g., development, testing).
- Checked item: Use visual management tools like Kanban boards to track WIP and ensure limits are respected.
- Checked item: Review and adjust WIP limits regularly based on team capacity and workflow efficiency.
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