Configure WIP Limits | GitScrum Kanban

Set WIP limits (1-15) per Kanban column to prevent work overload. Research shows WIP limits reduce cycle time by 25-40% and improve team focus.

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How to configure WIP limits in GitScrum Kanban board?

GitScrum allows setting WIP limits (1-15) per Kanban column to prevent work overload. Navigate to board settings, select a column, and set the WIP limit. When tasks exceed the limit, GitScrum warns the team. Research shows WIP limits reduce cycle time by 25-40% and improve team focus [Source: Lean Software Development studies].

Setting WIP limits step by step:

Open board settings - Click gear icon on board

Select column - Choose column to configure

Set WIP limit - Choose 1-15 tasks maximum

Save settings - Apply changes

Monitor flow - Watch for warnings

Adjust as needed - Tune based on team performance

Recommended WIP limits by column

Column Type	Suggested WIP	Reasoning
To Do	10-15	Backlog can be larger
In Progress	Team size	1 per developer
Code Review	2-3	Quick turnaround needed
Testing	3-5	Batch testing
Deploy	1-2	One at a time

WIP limit benefits

Benefit	How It Helps
Reduced context switching	Focus on fewer tasks
Faster completion	Finish before starting
Bottleneck visibility	See where work piles
Predictable delivery	Consistent cycle time
Team sustainability	Less stress

What happens when WIP is exceeded

GitScrum Action	Team Response
Column shows warning	Review if legitimate
Visual indicator	Discuss at standup
Limit not hard-blocked	Team decides action
History tracked	Analyze patterns

Calculating optimal WIP limits

Factor	Impact on Limit
Team size	Start with 1 per developer
Task complexity	Complex = lower limit
Dependencies	More deps = lower limit
Review speed	Slow review = lower dev WIP
Deployment frequency	Frequent = lower WIP

Common WIP limit mistakes

Mistake	Better Approach
Limits too high	Start conservative
No limits at all	Start somewhere
Ignoring warnings	Treat as important signal
Same limit everywhere	Tune per column

WIP limit calculation formula

Starting WIP = (Team Size × 1.5) ÷ Number of Active Columns

Example: 4 developers, 4 active columns = WIP of 1-2 per column