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Common Practice

Work In Progress (WIP) Limit

Common Practice Concept

A WIP limit restricts how many tasks can be worked on at the same time.

Plain English explanation

A wip limit controls how much work is happening at once so the team can stay focused and efficient.

Why it matters

Too much work at once creates context switching and slows everything down.

How it works

Teams set limits for each stage of work and do not start new work until existing work is finished.

Example

Only 5 tasks can be in progress at a time.

Common misunderstanding

WIP limits are not restrictions — they improve productivity.

Key points

  • Limits active work
  • Improves focus
  • Reduces multitasking
  • Improves flow

Source

Based on .

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