Simkan: Training kanban practices through stochastic simulation

Abstract

Kanban is a software development methodology that has grown and gained more supporters. Proportional of this growth, dissemination of knowledge in the use of its practices is essential. Moreover, training in software processes is not always a trivial endeavour, and exploring some project practices in traditional training rooms can be a complex task. This paper proposes SimKan, an analogical serious game for training Kanban practices. SimKan uses stochastic simulation to introduce aspects of randomness in the game, allowing a quasi-true experience on Kanban, performing in a short time-frame and using simple tools. Our results show that SimKan is adequate to train teams in Kanban, bringing positive results in a short time-frame and with low cost.