Kanban for Design and Innovation (KDI)
Shape the demand
that reaches delivery.
Build on KSD to make options, uncertainty, and incoming demand visible – then create an upstream Kanban system that helps your organisation make better choices before commitment.
Shape the work before delivery.
KDI helps you understand the ideas, requests, and uncertainty that arrive before work is ready to commit. It gives product and service teams a practical way to make options visible and maximise value.
Upstream work is rarely a neat pipeline. KDI helps you design a system that can handle discovery, decisions, and stakeholder collaboration without pretending uncertainty has disappeared.
Who KDI is for.
You guide product discovery.
- Build a clearer view of incoming ideas, requests, and opportunities.
- Create space for product and service discovery.
- Make the work before delivery visible.
Your upstream work resists a pipeline.
- Visualise iterative discovery without forcing false linear flow.
- See uncertainty and options while they are still open.
- Design a system that suits how innovation actually works.
You need clarity on what to pursue next.
- Actively manage the options competing for attention.
- Bring the right stakeholders into decisions.
- Balance preparation with delivery deliberately.
Your outcomes from KDI course.
Practical methods you can bring back to the connected work your organisation manages.
Make options visible.
Understand the ideas, requests, and uncertainty competing for attention.
Establish upstream Kanban.
Design a system for discovery and innovation work before delivery.
Manage incoming demand.
Use practical approaches to actively shape requests and options.
Balance discovery and delivery.
Decide how much preparation is needed before commitment.
Engage the right stakeholders.
Support pragmatic idea generation and decision making across the organisation.
Evolve how innovation flows.
Apply evolutionary change to improve upstream work over time.
Plan your KDI course.
KDI is a two-day, hands-on course offered in person or online. These details help you prepare well, take part fully, and complete your Kanban University certification.
Course format.
Two days in person or 16 hours online, including practical exercises and group discussion.
Prerequisites.
Prior attendance in Kanban System Design (KSD) is strongly recommended.
Recommendations.
Reading Kanban by David J. Anderson or Kanban from the Inside by Mike Burrows is recommended; plan time for self-paced learning too.
Completion and certification.
Receive Kanban University certification for completing KDI through active participation. Completing KSD and KDI earns the Kanban Management Professional credential.
KDI is the second step of the KMP path.
After KSD, KDI develops your product-delivery capability. Complete KSD with KDI to earn the Kanban Management Professional credential.
KSDKanban System Design
Required foundation course
Credential