Tag: project

Kanban System | Glossary

Prashant MJ Leave a comment

Definition:

The term  “Kanban” is a Japanese word which means “signal-card” in English and it invented by Industrial engineer “Taiichi Ohno” in order to improve efficiency at Toyota.

In manufacturing environment, this card signals upstream process to produce more.  The Kanban System used as a simple planning system, in which one can control and manage work and inventory at every stage of production optimally. Kanban is a concept identified with Lean and just-in-time (JIT), it is used in the planning which  clearly tells you

  • what to produce?
  • when to produce it?
  • how much to produce?

in a systematic way of approach, that will match inventory with demand and achieve higher levels of quality and throughput.

Application of this in knowledge work, especially in software engineering would enable a sustainable pace and find an approach to introduce changes with minimal resistance.  Kanban System helps to change the focus from a push to meet demand forecasts to a pull generated by actual demand.

Future Reading:

Book: “KANBAN A Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business” by David J Anderson

https://leankit.com/learn/kanban/what-is-kanban

http://www.everydaykanban.com/what-is-kanban

https://tallyfy.com/kanban-system

User Centered Design | Glossary

Prashant MJ Leave a comment

Definition:

User Centered design (UCD) is a process where designers, developers focuses on gaining deep understanding of the users. This is not only from interfaces and technology perspective but at each step keen attention is given for usability goals, context of the use, user characteristics, workflow of the product and usability testing with actual users.

This creates highly usable products which not only analyzes the way user consumes a product but also validates the behaviour of the user in real world. Tests conducted with or without actual users during requirements, pre-production and post production stages ensures development is user centric.

Below are the Principles that will ensure a User-centered design:

  • The design is based upon an explicit understanding of users, tasks and environments
  • Users are involved throughout design and development
  • The design is driven and refined by user-centered evaluation
  • UCD process is iterative
  • Designing the overall  user experience
  • The design team includes multidisciplinary skills and perspectives
  • This perspective of User Centered design increases product usefulness and usability.

Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User-centered_design
https://www.usability.gov/what-and-why/user-centered-design.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User-centered_design
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/user-centered-design