Kanban · KMP1
Kanban System Design (KMP 1)
Learn to design a Kanban board that genuinely reflects how work moves through your team, visualising states, queues, hand-offs and bottlenecks, and understanding why constraining work in progress actually improves flow rather than restricting it. You'll cover the Kanban cadences (which meetings to run, how often, and what to address in each), how to introduce explicit policies that reduce confusion, and how to bring a sceptical team on board without triggering resistance. KMP1 is Kanban University's foundational certification, built for anyone moving from an ad hoc task board to a properly designed flow-based system.
- Level
- Practitioner
- Duration
- 2 days · 4 x ½ days
- Certification
- KMP1
- Languages
- English
Certified by
Kanban University
Ways to join
Pick a format below
Berlin, Germany
Trainer: Russell Hill No upfront payment needed. A VAT invoice (Rechnung) will be sent via email and you can pay by bank transfer.
Who is this course for?
- Team leads and managers introducing structured flow management to their teams for the first time
- Scrum Masters and agile coaches who want to add Kanban to their professional toolkit
- Developers, testers, and analysts who want to understand how work flows through a system
- Anyone using an ad hoc task board who wants to turn it into a properly designed Kanban system
- Project managers and delivery leads moving from deadline-driven to flow-based thinking
- Operations and IT teams looking to reduce multitasking and improve overall throughput
What you'll learn
- The core principles and practices of the Kanban Method and how they work together
- How to visualise a workflow, identifying states, queues, hand-offs, and bottlenecks
- How to design a Kanban board that genuinely reflects the way work moves through your team
- How WIP limits work and why constraining work in progress actually improves flow
- How to introduce explicit policies that reduce confusion and create shared understanding
- The Kanban cadences, which meetings to run, at what frequency, and what to address in each
- How to introduce a Kanban system to a sceptical team without triggering resistance
- What to do when the board is in place but flow still isn't improving
How to take this course
Choose the format that fits you
In-Person
A full cohort, in one room, hands-on and trainer-led. Choose this if you want live feedback and the energy of a structured group session.
Included
Live Online
The same course, delivered live over video calls and a shared virtual whiteboard. Not on the public schedule right now, but available for private or in-house delivery on request.
Get in touch →Included
Not sure which fits best? Get in touch and we'll help you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Does the price include VAT?
No. Prices are shown excluding VAT. German VAT (currently 19%) is added on the invoice.
How do I pay? Can my employer pay?
There's no upfront payment. When you register, you receive a VAT invoice by email straight away, and it can be made out to your company. The invoice is normally payable within 30 days. If the course starts sooner than that, payment is due one week before the course; if you book within the last week, it's due on receipt. Payment is by bank transfer.
What if I can't attend after all?
Cancellation is free up to 14 days before the course starts. Between 8 and 14 days before, 50% of the course fee applies; within 7 days of the start, the full fee is due. Cancellations need to be sent by email.
Can I move to a different date instead?
Yes. You can switch to another date of the same course free of charge, as long as there's a seat.
Can I send a colleague in my place?
Yes, and at no extra cost. If you have to drop out at short notice, through illness for example, we'd actively encourage you to send a colleague instead. Just let us know their name and email address so we can update the booking and send them the joining details.
Could the course be cancelled?
It does happen sometimes. Whether a course goes ahead is decided 14 days before it starts, and you'll hear from us then if it can't. If a course is cancelled, you can choose between a place on a later date or a full refund of anything you've paid.
What language is the course in?
Courses run in English unless the course date says otherwise.
What are the times? Is lunch included?
Courses usually run from 09:00 to 17:00, unless the course date says otherwise. Drinks are provided throughout the day; lunch isn't included, but there's a proper lunch break. The venue details arrive by email in good time before the course.
How do the live online courses work?
Online courses usually run over four half-days, live and trainer-led, using Google Meet for video and Miro as a shared whiteboard, unless the course date says otherwise. Joining instructions arrive by email before the course. All you need is a laptop or desktop with a camera and microphone and a stable internet connection; a second screen makes working in Miro noticeably easier.
Do I get a certificate? Is it included in the price?
Yes. The certification credential from the certifying body (Flight Levels Academy, Kanban University, Scrum Alliance or ICAgile) and all course materials are included in the price.
Can you run this course just for our team?
Yes. Every course can run as private training for your organisation, in Berlin, at your premises or online, and adapted to your context. Get in touch through the contact page.
Is there a discount for booking several places?
Not at the moment. For larger groups, a private course for your team is often the better option (see above).
What certification do I get?
You receive a Kanban University certificate when you complete KMP1. Once you've also completed KMP2, you're awarded the full Kanban Management Professional (KMP) certification.
Do I need KMP1 before KMP2?
Yes, KMP1 needs to be completed before you take KMP2.
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KMP2
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Use flow metrics, cycle time, throughput, and work item age, to diagnose exactly where an existing Kanban system is breaking down, then evolve WIP limits and policies based on evidence rather than guesswork. You'll learn to run a Service Delivery Review that turns data into productive stakeholder conversations, use Monte Carlo simulations for probabilistic forecasting, and read cumulative flow diagrams to catch problems before they become crises. Built for KMP1 holders whose Kanban system has been running for a while and is ready for systematic, evolutionary improvement, KMP2 is Kanban University's advanced certification.