1. Description
A Kendis Collaboration Board provides a flexible, digital canvas for visual collaboration, brainstorming, and structuring workshops like Big Room Planning (BRP), Inspect & Adapt (I&A), and Retrospectives. This guide details the steps to create a new board, configure its scope through associations, and introduces the key tools available once the board is open.
2. Key Benefits of Collaboration Boards Setup
Benefit | Description | Contextual Information |
Rapid Setup via Templates | Boards can be quickly created using predefined System Templates (e.g., Planning Retro) to instantly establish a structure for common agile ceremonies. | Selecting a template pre-configures the board's layout, columns, and initial sticky notes, saving time during planning sessions. |
Contextual Association | Directly link the Collaboration Board to specific Program Boards, Solution Boards, or Collections to ensure context is shared and relevant. | Boards are organized by customizable Board Types (e.g., General, Teams, Inspect and Adapt) in the left navigation pane for easy filtering. |
Intuitive Toolkit | The dedicated toolbar on the left side of the board provides all necessary drawing, creation, and framing tools for real-time visual collaboration. | Tools include sticky notes, shapes, lines, text, and the ability to upload images. |
3. Pre-Configuration: Managing Board Types
Collab Boards are grouped by Board Types (e.g., Teams, General) for organizational purposes. Since you need to select a Board Type during board creation, this section explains how to manage those categories in the Collab Board list view.
3.1. Creating and Managing Board Types
Access Management: In the left navigation pane of the Collab Board list view, locate and click the ⊕ Plus Icon next to the "Board Types" header.
Create New Type: Click "⊕ Create New Type", enter the desired name (e.g., "Team Venus"), and click "Done".
Edit/Delete Type: Hover over an existing type in the left pane (e.g., Teams). Click the three-dot icon (⋮) that appears and select "Edit" to rename it or "Delete" to remove the category.
4. Detailed Navigation Guide: Creating a New Collab Board
There are three primary flows for initiating a new Collaboration Board:
Method A: Via the Program/Solution Board (Contextual Creation)
Navigate to the Board: From the Kendis main interface, open the desired Program or Solution Board.
Access the More Menu: Click the "More" button in the top-right corner of the board's header ribbon.
Select Collab Board: In the dropdown Tracking menu, click the "Collab Board" icon (a lavender square with an overlapping grid icon).
Open Creation Modal: This will take you to the Collab Board list page, where you click the "Create Board" button (top right) or "Add Collaboration Board" (if no boards exist).
Method B: Via the Collab Boards Home Page (General Creation)
Navigate to Collab Boards: Access the Collaboration Boards module from the main Kendis navigation (the Collab Boards list page).
Initiate Creation: Click the "Create Board" button in the top right corner, or click the centered "Add Collaboration Board" button.
Template Selection Modal: Clicking either button will first launch the "Select Template for Collaboration Board" modal.
Select "No Template" (the white card with a green plus icon) to create a blank canvas.
Select a System Template (e.g., "Planning Retro Template") to begin with a predefined layout.
Step 4.1: Configuring Board Details (Details Tab)
After selecting your template (or "No Template"), the "Create New Collab Board" modal appears.
Board Name: Enter a descriptive name in the "Board Name" field.
Description: Provide a brief description (up to 250 characters).
Board Type: Select the desired category from the "Board Type" dropdown (e.g., General, Inspect and Adapt, or one of the custom Team types you created in Section 3.1).
Associate With: Check the box(es) to select the scope of the board: Program Board, Solution Board, or Collections.
Proceed: Click the green "View Associations →" button to move to the next tab.
Step 4.2: Configuring Board Scope (Associations Tab)
This step links your Collab Board to specific data contexts.
Select Collections (if checked): If you selected Collections, use the dropdown to select the required collections (e.g., Test Boards).
Select Program/Solution Boards: Choose the specific Program and/or Solution Boards you wish to associate.
Contextual Tip: If a Collection is selected, the list of available Program Boards below it will be filtered to only show boards contained within that specific collection.
Finalize: Click the green "Create Board" button.
5. Initialization and Tools
Once created, the board will open, presenting a digital canvas.
5.1. Board Header Functionality
The header, located at the top of the canvas, provides context and administrative controls:
Element | Location | Description |
Associated Board Name | Top left | Displays the name of the associated Program, Solution, or Collection (e.g., Value Stream Art PI2). |
Collab Board Name | Top left | Displays the name of the current collaboration board (e.g., PI Planning Retro). |
Search Bar | Top right | A magnifying glass icon (which expands into a search bar) allows users to search the contents of the current collaboration board. |
Share Button | Top right | The "Share" button allows you to control access and permissions for other users. |
Settings Menu | Top right | The gear/cog icon provides a menu for board administration and export options: Edit Board Settings (pencil icon), Export as PDF (PDF icon), and Export as Image (picture icon). |
5.2. The Collaboration Toolkit (Vertical Toolbar)
The vertical toolbar on the far left provides the primary creation and interaction tools:
Icon | Function | Description |
Pointer | Selection Tool | Used to select, move, and interact with existing elements on the canvas. |
Hand icon | Panning Tool | Used to click and drag the canvas view around. |
Square icon | Sticky Note Tool | Click to place a default sticky note. Clicking the icon reveals a color palette and a 'Bulk Mode' option for rapid placement. |
Shape icons | Shape Tool | Used to draw common geometric shapes (square, circle, triangle, diamond) for swimlanes or visual grouping. |
T icon | Text Tool | Used to add large text blocks or labels directly onto the canvas. |
Frame icon | Frame Tool / Add Frame | Used to create large frames around content to visually group related sticky notes or diagrams. |
Linking icon | Linking Tools | Clicking this icon reveals options for drawing straight lines or curved lines to connect objects. |
Scribble icon | Drawing Tool | Used to draw freeform shapes or lines. |
Upload icon | Upload Image | Used to upload images from your local file system onto the canvas for visual context. |
5.3. Contextual Interaction: Quick Connect and Object Menu
This section covers interactive methods for working with objects on the canvas:
Quick Connect: Drawing Connections and New Objects
Hover to Activate: Hover your mouse over any existing object (sticky note, shape) on the canvas. A small Plus Icon (+ icon) will appear on the object's edge.
Click and Drag to Connect: Click and hold the Plus Icon (+ icon), then drag the resulting connector line to another existing object to link the two. A dependency arrow will be drawn between them.
Click and Drag to Create: Alternatively, click and hold the Plus Icon (+ icon), and drag away from the original object. As you drag, a preview of a new object (a gray dotted shape) will appear at the end of the line. Release the mouse button to draw a line and automatically create the new, linked object at the cursor's location.
Object Context Menu (Right-Click)
All actions available via the three-dot icon (⋮) on a selected object (e.g., Send to Back, Duplicate, Copy, Paste, Delete) are also accessible by right-clicking the object.
5.4. Canvas Interaction Controls (Bottom Right)
These controls manage the board's view state and history:
Undo/Redo: The left and right curved arrows allow you to reverse or re-apply the last action on the board.
Zoom Controls: Standard plus (+) and minus (-) icons, along with a percentage display, control the zoom level of the canvas.
Fit to Screen: An icon (usually two diagonal arrows) allows you to instantly fit all content on the board into the current screen view.
5.5. Deleting Objects
Objects (like sticky notes, shapes, or text) are removed using the object's context menu, not an eraser tool:
Select Object: Click the object you wish to delete.
Access Menu: Click the three-dot icon (⋮) that appears in the formatting toolbar above the selected object, or right-click the object.
Delete: Select "Delete" from the dropdown menu.