This document describes a Kanban simulation game called Changeban. It provides the rules for playing the game, which involves teams of 3-5 people moving sticky notes representing work items across a board from columns like "In Progress" to "Complete". The game is played over iterations using a deck of cards, where players either advance their own work or help others. It teaches lessons about limiting work in progress and respecting pull systems for workflow.

1. Mike Burrows mike@agendashift.com
Twitter: @asplake @agendashift #changeban
Web: agendashift.com/changeban
Slack: agendashift.com/slack, channel #changeban
Version 1.0, November 2018
Copyright © 2017-2018 Agendashift™ (a trading name of Positive Incline Ltd)
Changeban by Mike Burrows of Positive Incline Ltd is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en_US.
Visit www.agendashift.com/changeban for facilitation information and downloads.
ChangebanA Lean Startup-flavoured Kanban simulation

2. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
B
MBSC
B
AW
AW
B
Visualise our work…
– product ideas
– improvement ideas:
- process, organisation,
policy
Iteration 1:Visual management
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB

3. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
B
MBSC
B
AW
AW
B
…and our workflow
Iteration 1:Visual management
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB

4. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
AW
AW
B
Iteration 1:Visual management
Valuable
FeasibleUsable

5. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
• Teams of 3 to 5 people
(4 is ideal)
• Stickies in two colours, 8
stickies per colour
• A deck of cards per team
Setup
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB

6. Question: What do the cards represent?
https://openphoto.net/gallery/image/view/21316

7. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
EITHER
advance an item
you own…
MB MB MB
B
Red ♥฀♦฀you win…
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB

8. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
B/
MB
OR unblock one of your
blocked items (without
moving it)…
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
Red ♥฀♦฀you win…

9. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
OR start a new
item, taking
ownership of it
MB
B
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
Red ♥฀♦฀you win…
MB

10. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VPMB
MB
B/
MB
If you own any unblocked
items, block one. Don’t block
multiple items, or anyone
else’s
KF
B
Black ♠฀♣฀you lose?
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB

11. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VPMB
MB
B/
MB
AND cheer yourself up by
starting a new item, taking
ownership
KF
B
MBKFMB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
Black ♠฀♣฀you lose?

12. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
KF
B
MB
B
MBSC
B
Endgame 1: Prune decisively
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
Each time you advance an item
into Accepted (yay!), choose
an uncompleted item to reject
(yay!). Your team colleagues
will help you decide which one.
MBKF
B

13. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
B
MBSC
B
Endgame 1: Prune decisively
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
Perhaps one of these
items will never be worth
starting
MBKF
B

14. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
B
MBSC
B
Endgame 1: Prune decisively
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
B
Perhaps you’re having
difficulty agreeing a feasible
solution acceptable to all
stakeholders
MBKF
B

15. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
B
SC
B
Endgame 1: Prune decisively
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MBSC
B
Perhaps this one isn’t going to
stick
MBKF
B

16. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MBSC
B
Endgame 1: Prune decisively
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
BBB//
Perhaps this one isn’t
proving as valuable as
you hoped
MBKF
B

17. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VPMBKF
B
If – and only if – you can’t advance,
unblock, or start an item of your own,
help someone else by unblocking or
moving one of theirs
Endgame 2: When you’re out of options
ML
B
TP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
B
AW
B
AW
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
B

18. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
1 point for each Accepted item, up to a
maximum of 4 per colour – 8 points
available
1 point for each colour represented in each
subcolumn of Rejected – 8 points available
A bonus point for each subcolumn of Rejected
that contains exactly 2 items, 1 of each colour
– 4 points available
Here: 6 + 6 + 1 = 13 out of a possible 20, a
par score
MB
B
AW
B
AW
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MBSC
B
Score for maximum learning across the board

19. Iteration 1:Visual management – play!
• After everyone has drawn a card, discuss your intended moves in your
daily standup meeting
• Make your moves according to the rules below
• Repeat these simulated “days” until your facilitator tells you to stop
Red ♥฀♦฀ Black ♠฀♣฀
• EITHER advance an item you own one
column rightwards
• OR unblock one of your blocked items
• OR start a new item, taking ownership
• BOTH block one of your currently
unblocked items if you have any
• AND start a new item if any remain,
taking ownership
Endgame: Red ♥฀♦฀or Black ♠฀♣฀
• If and only if you can’t move, start, or unblock for yourself, help someone!
Move or unblock for another player
• When you accept an item, reject another, chosen by the whole team

20. Iteration 1:Visual management – timeout!
Questions:
• How would you describe your board in its current state?
• If your backlog was inexhaustible, what would happen?

21. Iteration 1:Visual management – play!
• After everyone has drawn a card, discuss your intended moves in your
daily standup meeting
• Make your moves according to the rules below
• Repeat these simulated “days” until your facilitator tells you to stop
Red ♥฀♦฀ Black ♠฀♣฀
• EITHER advance an item you own one
column rightwards
• OR unblock one of your blocked items
• OR start a new item, taking ownership
• BOTH block one of your currently
unblocked items if you have any
• AND start a new item if any remain,
taking ownership
Endgame: Red ♥฀♦฀or Black ♠฀♣฀
• If and only if you can’t move, start, or unblock for yourself, help someone!
Move or unblock for another player
• When you accept an item, reject another, chosen by the whole team

22. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
1 point for each Accepted item, up to a
maximum of 4 per colour – 8 points
available
1 point for each colour represented in each
subcolumn of Rejected – 8 points available
A bonus point for each subcolumn of Rejected
that contains exactly 2 items, 1 of each colour
– 4 points available
Here: 6 + 6 + 1 = 13 out of a possible 20, a
par score
MB
B
AW
B
AW
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MBSC
B
Score for maximum learning across the board

24. WIP limits
Perfect 20!

25. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( 2 )
Validate
Adoption
( 2 )
Verify
Performance
( 2 )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
MBSC
B
AW
AW
B
Exactly the same rules as
before, except that these WIP
limits must be respected
Iteration 2:WIP limits and pull systems
MB
AW
B

26. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( 2 )
Validate
Adoption
( 2 )
Verify
Performance
( 2 )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
KF
B
MB
MBSC
AW
AW
B
✔
MBKF
B
AW
B
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
Respect theWIP limits
Work gets accepted (yay!) and
rejected (yay!) exactly as
before

27. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( 2 )
Validate
Adoption
( 2 )
Verify
Performance
( 2 )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
SC
AW
AW
B
MBKF
B
✖
MBSC
Iteration 2: Respect theWIP limits
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
AW
B
You can’t push work into an
activity that’s already operating
at capacity

28. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( 2 )
Validate
Adoption
( 2 )
Verify
Performance
( 2 )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
MBSC
AW
AW
B
✔
MB
AW
B
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
Iteration 2: Respect theWIP limits
But it’s fine to pull work into
an activity that has capacity
available

29. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( 2 )
Validate
Adoption
( 2 )
Verify
Performance
( 2 )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
MB
SC
AW
AW
B
MBKF
B
Iteration 2: Respect theWIP limits
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
AW
B
✖
MB
Oops! Now what?

30. Iteration 2:WIP limits and pull systems – play!
• After everyone has drawn a cards, discuss your intended moves in your daily
standup meeting
• Make your moves according to the rules below
• Respect the WIP limits: Move only if there is capacity in the receiving column
Red ♥฀♦฀ Black ♠฀♣฀
• EITHER advance an item you own one
column rightwards
• OR unblock one of your blocked items
• OR start a new item, taking ownership
• BOTH block one of your currently
unblocked items if you have any
• AND start a new item if any remain,
taking ownership
Endgame: Red ♥฀♦฀or Black ♠฀♣฀
• If and only if you can’t move, start, or unblock for yourself, help someone!
Move or unblock for another player
• When you accept an item, reject another, chosen by the whole team

31. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( )
Validate
Adoption
( )
Verify
Performance
( )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
MB
BBB//
MBKF
B
1 point for each Accepted item, up to a
maximum of 4 per colour – 8 points
available
1 point for each colour represented in each
subcolumn of Rejected – 8 points available
A bonus point for each subcolumn of Rejected
that contains exactly 2 items, 1 of each colour
– 4 points available
Here: 6 + 6 + 1 = 13 out of a possible 20, a
par score
MB
B
AW
B
AW
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MB
MBSC
B
Score for maximum learning across the board

32. Iteration 2: Reflections
• What just happened?
• What was different?
• What is a winning strategy?
• Implications for practice?

33. Agree
Urgency
In progress ( )
Complete Negotiate
Change
( 2 )
Validate
Adoption
( 2 )
Verify
Performance
( 2 )
Accepted
Rejected
AU NC VA VP
Valuable, feasible, usable – fail/reject fast
Is it valuable?
Will we get to
it soon?
Is it feasible?
Is it
acceptable to
all parties?
Is it usable?
Will it stick?
Is it actually
valuable?
Is it meeting
needs?
X X X X
✔

34. A retrospective on your rejected ideas
For each activity (column) in the process, describe an experiment
that rejected a product or improvement idea:
“We believed <hypothesis>
but found while <activity>
that <insight>
and rejected this idea”
And a pilot experiment that might have helped:
“Had we tried <x>,
we might have discovered this
<sooner, more cheaply, &/or more safely>”
Reflect on
what you
learned
Reflect on
your
learning
process

35. A Lean Startup-inspired hypothesis template
Frame two more promising hypotheses (one of each kind):
We believe that
(actionablechange) ____________________________
will result in
(meaningfuloutcome) ____________________________.
If successful,we might expect to see
(observableimpact) ___________________________
___________________________
___________________________.

36. www.agendashift.com/a3
Change:
Owner: Mentor:
Context / scope: Aligned to objective:
(owner)
Copyright © 2016-2017 Agendashift™(a trading name of Positive Incline Ltd). Visit www.agendashift.com/ resources for downloads.
This A3 template by Mike Burrows of Agendashift (a trading name of Positive Incline Ltd) is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
International License. To view a copy of this license, visit https:/ / creativecommons.org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 4.0/
We believe that
will result in
I f successful, we might expect to see
Hypothesis Risks
Downside (to be invalidated/ mitigated) Upside (to be nurtured)
Pilot experiments (new A3s)
Directly impacted Other stakeholders & influencers
Assumptions & dependencies
People I nsights
Assumptions to be validated Dependencies to be resolved

37. Topics for discussion
• Single loop and double loop learning1:
1. Single loop learning: Acting on what you learned
2. Double loop learning: Acting on what you learned about
your approach to learning
• Deliberately accelerating learning through:
1. Experiment design
2. Process design – workflow, policies, parameters etc
3. Frequent opportunities for reflection and action
4. Deeper reflection (eg Agendashift)
1 Chris Argyris

38. From the Agendashift stable
agendashift.com/resources
• Agendashift A3 template
• Featureban
• 15-minute FOTO
• …and more
agendashift.com/slack
• Dedicated #changeban
channel
agendashift.com/books
agendashift.com/reading
agendashift.com/linkedin
agendashift.com/partner
Mike Burrows mike@agendashift.com
Twitter: @asplake @agendashift
Profile: agendashift.com/mike
(2019)