MDG Technology for Kanban

The MDG Technology for Kanban Diagrams provides diagram types and patterns that underpin the creation of Kanban diagrams. Whilst it is possible to create Kanban diagrams from most UML diagram types and design the workflows on them from scratch, these diagram types and patterns help you to generate a Kanban that matches your requirements and then adjust the settings to suit, thus saving time and effort.

Model Pattern: Three Stage Workflow

This image shows the Kanban diagrams that are included as part of the model Pattern 'Three Stage Workflow'.

Access

On the 'MDG Technologies' dialog, select 'Kanban', then click on the 'Enabled' checkbox and on the OK button.

Ribbon

Configure > Technology > Manage > Technology

Kanban Diagram Types

The MDG Technology for Kanban Diagrams provides four kinds of pre-defined Kanban diagram, as described here. To create one of these diagrams, open the 'New Diagram' dialog, select 'Kanban' in the left-hand pane and choose one of the diagram types from the right-hand pane.

Diagram Type	Description
Basic	The Basic Kanban diagram contains these lanes: Backlog Queue In Progress Done The Basic Kanban diagram doesn't have a lane binding to any element property.
Backlog	The Backlog Kanban diagram contains these lanes: Low Medium High Critical The lanes are bound to the element Priority, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Priority to the name of the lane.
Iteration	The Iteration Kanban diagram contains these lanes: Queue In Progress Test/Review Done The lanes are bound to the element Phase, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane.
Complete	The Complete Kanban diagram contains these lanes: Ready for Release Staging Production Done The lanes are bound to the element Phase, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane.

Kanban Workflow Patterns

Kanban Workflow model Patterns help you to very quickly set up a one, two or three stage workflow, using and linking the Backlog, Iteration and Complete Kanban diagrams.

Workflow Pattern	Description
1-stage Workflow Pattern	The 1-stage Workflow Pattern consists of a single Kanban diagram with the Backlog, Queue, In Progress, Test/Review, Done, and Deploy lanes. These lanes are linked to the Phase property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane.
2-stage Workflow Pattern	The 2-stage Workflow Pattern consists of two related Kanban diagrams: A Backlog Kanban diagram with Low, Medium, High and Critical lanes linked to the Priority property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update the Priority to the name of the lane, and An Iteration Kanban diagram with Queue, In Progress, Test/Review, Done and Deploy lanes linked to the Phase property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane Each diagram also has a drop zone that helps you to move elements easily between diagrams. Simply drag the elements onto the appropriate zone (having the name of the diagram to move elements to) and select either 'Move to' to move the element to the new diagram, or 'Create link on diagram' to create a link on the second diagram without removing it from the current diagram.
3-stage Workflow Pattern	The 3-stage Workflow Pattern consists of three related Kanban diagrams: A Backlog Kanban diagram with Low, Medium, High and Critical lanes linked to the Priority property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update the Priority to the name of the lane An Iteration Kanban diagram with Queue, In Progress, Test/Review, and Done lanes linked to the Phase property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane, and A Complete Kanban diagram with Ready for Release, Staging and Production lanes linked to the Phase property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane Each diagram also has a drop zone that helps you to move elements easily between diagrams. Simply drag the elements onto the appropriate zone (having the name of the diagram to move elements to) and select either 'Move to' to move the element to the new diagram, or 'Create link on diagram' to create a link on the second diagram without removing it from the current diagram.

Workflow Pattern

Description

1-stage Workflow Pattern

The 1-stage Workflow Pattern consists of a single Kanban diagram with the Backlog, Queue, In Progress, Test/Review, Done, and Deploy lanes. These lanes are linked to the Phase property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane.

2-stage Workflow Pattern

The 2-stage Workflow Pattern consists of two related Kanban diagrams:

A Backlog Kanban diagram with Low, Medium, High and Critical lanes linked to the Priority property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update the Priority to the name of the lane, and

An Iteration Kanban diagram with Queue, In Progress, Test/Review, Done and Deploy lanes linked to the Phase property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane

Each diagram also has a drop zone that helps you to move elements easily between diagrams. Simply drag the elements onto the appropriate zone (having the name of the diagram to move elements to) and select either 'Move to' to move the element to the new diagram, or 'Create link on diagram' to create a link on the second diagram without removing it from the current diagram.

3-stage Workflow Pattern

The 3-stage Workflow Pattern consists of three related Kanban diagrams:

A Backlog Kanban diagram with Low, Medium, High and Critical lanes linked to the Priority property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update the Priority to the name of the lane

An Iteration Kanban diagram with Queue, In Progress, Test/Review, and Done lanes linked to the Phase property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane, and

A Complete Kanban diagram with Ready for Release, Staging and Production lanes linked to the Phase property of elements, so that moving elements between lanes will automatically update their Phase to the name of the lane