Kanban Method

This approach to time management aims to improve daily efficiency and clarity of purpose through the use of a visual planning board. It will have three columns labelled
o To do.
o In progress / Ongoing / Doing / Working on.
o Completed / Done / Finished.

Write the tasks onto cards / sticky notes, or similar and then prioritise and classify each task as either High, Medium, or Low, in priority. Group the priorities together and place in a separate row. Then place all the cards / notes into the 'To do' column.

Identify how many tasks might be able to be worked on at any one time, which might typically be from 1 to 4, and move the relevant cards / notes into the 'In Progress' column. To ensure suitable time allocation and workflow management takes place consider combining this visual technique with time blocking, Pomodoro technique, or similar.

Once any task is completed it then moves into the 'Completed' column. This visual approach provides an immediate view of the current daily situation.

Review the visual board at the beginning and end of each day, identifying areas for improvement, especially where hold-ups and delays have occurred. Try and determine what impacted the workflow and identify solutions to reduce or prevent this from occurring again. This process of continuous improvement works towards maximising efficient use of resources.

The second column might be divided into two, with the second part of this column being called 'On hold' / 'Hold', or similar. This could be useful where a task that has become more important needs to take priority over one of the other tasks, either by being started or needing to overtake a task where both are already in progress. In addition, this additional column could be used where there is a delay holding up progress, for example machine breakdown, or non-availability of suitable materials.