Kanban WIP Limit Violation Identification
Exhibit
Kanban Board: To Do: 3 In Progress: 5 (WIP limit: 3) Done: 2
Refer to the exhibit. What problem does this Kanban board reveal?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that the WIP limit for In Progress is exceeded, as the board shows five items in that column against a stated limit of three. This is a classic Kanban WIP limit violation identification scenario, where the core principle of limiting work in progress to improve flow and reduce bottlenecks is directly tested. On the Certified Associate in Project Management CAPM exam, this concept appears in the Agile and Lean frameworks section, often as a visual board interpretation question designed to assess your understanding of pull-based systems versus push-based overload. A common trap is to focus on the number of items in To Do or Done, but the violation is always about the column where the limit is explicitly set and surpassed. Remember the memory tip: “Count the cards, check the caps—WIP is about what’s in the laps,” meaning you only evaluate the column actively being worked on, not the backlog or completed work.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The WIP limit for In Progress is exceeded.
The In Progress column shows 5 items while its WIP limit is set to 3, meaning the WIP limit is exceeded. This is the problem revealed by the Kanban board. Option B is incorrect: a nearly empty To Do column is not necessarily a problem; it may indicate that work is being pulled efficiently. Option C is incorrect: having many items in Done is a positive sign of completed work, not a problem. Option D is incorrect: there is no indication of blocked items in the exhibit.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The WIP limit for In Progress is exceeded.
Why this is correct
The WIP limit is 3, but there are 5 items in progress, causing overloading and potential bottlenecks.
- ✗
The To Do column is nearly empty.
Why it's wrong here
The To Do column has 3 items, which is not a problem.
- ✗
Too many items are in the Done column.
Why it's wrong here
The Done column has 2 items, which is not excessive.
- ✗
There are blocked items that need attention.
Why it's wrong here
The board does not show any blocked items; the issue is the WIP violation.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on CAPM
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. What issue does the Kanban board reveal?
easy- A.Not enough items are done.
- B.The backlog is too large.
- ✓ C.The WIP limit is exceeded.
- D.The team is overworked.
Why C: The Kanban board shows 4 items in the 'In Progress' column, but the Work-In-Progress (WIP) limit is set to 3. This indicates that the WIP limit is exceeded, violating Kanban principles and causing potential bottlenecks. Option A is incorrect because the issue is not about the number of done items but the limit in progress. Option B is incorrect as the backlog size is not the direct issue shown. Option D is a possible consequence but not the primary issue revealed by the board.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CAPM exam.