In Kanban, what function do columns like "To Do," "In Progress," and "Complete" serve?

In Kanban, columns such as "To Do," "In Progress," and "Complete" serve as visual representations of different phases of work within a workflow. Each column corresponds to a specific stage in the process that tasks must go through from initiation to completion. This visual management tool allows the team to see at a glance what work is pending, what is currently being worked on, and what has been finished.

By organizing tasks into these distinct phases, teams can easily identify bottlenecks in the workflow, manage their capacity, and prioritize work effectively. The goal of Kanban is to enhance the flow of work and continually improve processes, making the clear delineation of phases crucial for team efficiency. This setup fosters better collaboration and communication among team members, ensuring everyone is aligned and aware of the current status of tasks.