Managing Initiatives
Qanban oversees crucial strategic initiatives through three hierarchical categories referred to as the 3Ps (Portfolio, Program, and Project). The extent to which you manage these key initiatives can be tailored to your organisation’s size, as depicted below:
Portfolio Management
How to access: Main Menu > Management > Portfolio
In the realm of management, a portfolio represents a consolidated assembly of assets, investments, products, services, projects, or businesses that an individual or organisation possesses, directs, or supervises as a unified entity. The primary aim of portfolio management is to facilitate well-informed decision-making regarding resource allocation, risk mitigation, and alignment with strategic objectives. Through the assessment and optimisation of elements within the portfolio, both individuals and organisations can enhance their ability to attain goals and objectives while managing the delicate balance between risks and returns. Additionally, portfolio management ensures that the various components within the portfolio function cohesively and contribute to the overall success of the entity.
In the context of Qanban, you have the capability to establish portfolios, associate them with programs and projects, and gain access to the related programs and projects through the portfolio’s detailed information.
Program Management
How to access: Main Menu > Management > Program
In the realm of management, a program denotes a strategic endeavor or an assembly of interconnected projects and undertakings that are orchestrated and overseen collectively with the aim of attaining specific goals or objectives set by an organisation. Programs typically encompass a larger scale and level of intricacy compared to individual projects and frequently encompass numerous interlinked projects that, when executed in unison, make a significant contribution to the achievement of broader strategic outcomes. Illustrative instances of management programs include expansive IT ventures, endeavors to institute organisational changes, programs dedicated to product development, and the execution of strategic marketing campaigns. Programs serve as a means for organisations to efficiently navigate intricate initiatives and ensure that they play a role in the realisation of the organisation’s strategic triumphs.
In the context of Qanban, you possess the capability to create programs, associate them with projects, and access the related information by delving into the details of these programs.
Project Management
How to access: Main Menu > Management > Project
Within the realm of management, a project represents a time-bound and well-defined undertaking with clear objectives, a specified scope, allocated resources, and a predetermined schedule. These projects are generally initiated with the aim of producing a distinct and exceptional product, service, or outcome, and they are marked by their definitive initiation and conclusion.
In the context of Qanban, the project serves as the overarching category for all deliverable work items. Work items encompass EPIC, FEATURE, and actionable elements referred to as STORY and TASK, each with defined standard durations for their scope of work. The connections between these work items that Qanban facilitates depend on the level of granularity and complexity you choose to implement, as illustrated below:
Each project can be associated with one or multiple teams, enabling the assignment of work items to them (further details on this will be provided in the Managing People & Access and Tracking Progress). To support professional service businesses, Qanban permits the linkage of projects to client organisations, allowing you to invite external client representatives to monitor project progress with limited access.
To enhance transparency, projects established within a workspace can be viewed by all individuals within that same workspace. For any confidential initiatives, they can be created within a separate workspace and granted access only to specific individuals for viewing within that workspace.