Kanban on Marat Kiniabulatov | Agile Coach, OKR, PMO

Boosting Efficiency with WIP Aging Insights and Tools

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

When examining real workflow data, there’s a common pattern: clusters of tasks that have aged significantly, some clearly stagnating beyond ~~recognition~~ acceptable timeframes. These cases point to one of the most important yet very often overlooked metrics in flow management: WIP Aging.

WIP (Work In Progress) Aging measures the elapsed time that a work item has spent in active progress but remains incomplete. This metric serves as an early warning system for workflow problems, helping teams identify where work gets stuck before it significantly impacts delivery timelines. Unlike cycle time, which analyzes completed tasks retrospectively, WIP Aging provides real-time visibility into current work, making it the single most actionable metric for proactive flow management.

Monte Carlo Simulation: Forecasting Throughput and Project Timelines

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Forecasting team Throughput is super-easy and much more reliable than traditional methods, if you limit your work in Progress. Reliability confirmed by research data.

We’ve already extensively covered Throughput (one of the flow metrics), how to analyze Throughput data from 3 key angles. And why it’s better for forecasting than storypoints.

Now let’s get to essentials and practical questions that our management looooves to ask: “When will you guys finish this project of X items”?

Product Operations: simple steps to build transparent Feature Pipeline to dramatically lower Lead Time

Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

(Experience from an AI-Based Fintech KYC SaaS Startup Focused on LATAM and Africa)

Your regular challenge: When Sales, Marketing and IT Speak Different Languages

Our SaaS startup served emerging fast-paced fintech markets (it still is). Speed + compliance were existential. Since most startups live on venture capital with limited runway, every delay in shipping value to the market means lost clients and regulatory risk. It also a huge roadblock on your path to become self-sustainable. So you need to be super frugal and efficient.

My experience in preparing to PSM II (Professional Scrum Master) certification

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Hey everyone, here’s my list of resources and literature for getting prepped for the PSM II examination. I would be tremendously happy if you share yours :)

*Sidenote: if you are “certificates are overvalued” type of person - I’d agree. This is especially true when it comes to CSM / PSM I - because that certification only mentions that you have been introduced to the basics. However, when it comes to PSM II you need to rely on your experience as a Scrum Master. No more “shu” (of shu-ha-ri), just your experience and daily understanding of agile values. *

Workflow for the Requirements in the Distributed team

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This is basically the anatomy of a distributed team, working on requirements. Key point here is that this is the process working for us, in current configuration, and it’s effective.

Disclaimer: Every organization is different: from internal structure to how it communicates with the outer world. So no workflow is a silver bullet.

*Disclaimer 2: SkuVault is an ever-improving team of ~50 people, distributed across 10 timezones, 2 different versions, and serving loyal clients worldwide 24/7. Learn more about Communication in distributed teams: Messenger & Rules, or *Why we ditched Scrum, in favor of Kanban in JIRA