KCP study guide
KCP · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Kanban Coaching Professional (KCP) is described by Kanban University as an internationally recognised advanced credential for people who lead and evolve organisations to higher levels of maturity. It sits at the top of a stated credential path: the KMP Credential, then the KMM Kanban Maturity Model Certificate, then the KC Kanban Coaching Certificate, and finally KCP. To receive the credential you complete the learning requirements, pass the KCP exam, and complete credential activation. The credential brings together the Kanban Maturity Model and Kanban Coaching curricula, with an exam intended to demonstrate mastery and effective coaching tools. It is aimed at people who guide others - coaches, trainers, consultants, and change leaders working with teams and organisations that need practical Kanban capability - and at practitioners building on applied experience who want a clear next step. The emphasis is on making change stick by working with people, culture, leadership, and organisational context, not only practices. Topics on this exam: Kanban Maturity Model and Kanban Coaching. The KCP study guide has 2 sections and about 723 words.
01Kanban Maturity Model
The Kanban Maturity Model (KMM) domain checks whether you can use the model as a diagnostic and transition guide, not as a checklist to climb. Expect questions on the seven levels (0–6) from Oblivious through Emerging, Defined, Managed, Quantitatively Managed, and Optimizing; on the distinction between practices and culture; and on “fit for purpose”-choosing practices that match context rather than the highest level. KMM is descriptive, not prescriptive: it describes what good looks like at each level and offers transition guidance. Maturity is assessed on two dimensions: observable practices and cultural values/leadership behaviors.
357 words, about 2 min02Kanban Coaching
Kanban Coaching tests your ability to create change through partnership rather than command. Questions cover the coaching stance, the coaching agreement, using the KMM diagnostically, coaching at each maturity level, and handling sponsors, resistance, and evidence. Coaching is not mentoring, consulting, or training: the coach asks, observes, and reflects; the client owns the solution. The coaching agreement defines goals, scope, roles, confidentiality, success measures, and exit.
366 words, about 2 minMore study resources for KCP
- Practice questionsIn the Kanban Maturity Model, what is the primary purpose of assessing an organization's maturity level?
- FlashcardsKMM maturity levels. Seven levels from ML0 to ML6 describing organizational capability, from ad hoc hero-driven work to enterprise-wide fitness for purpose and customer-focused value networks.
- Cheat sheetThe KMM defines seven organizational maturity levels (ML0–ML6), each describing observable practices, values, and outcomes rather than a certification grade.
- Key termsKanban Maturity Model (KMM). A framework describing six progressive organizational maturity levels, from team-level practice to enterprise-wide business agility, each with defined practices, values, and expected outcomes used to guide improvement.
- Study planMap the seven Kanban Maturity Model levels to their defining practices, and write a one-paragraph summary of each level in your own words.
- Common mistakesCandidates memorize the level names (ML0–ML6) and their headline labels from a summary table, then apply them as a checklist.
- Exam-day guideBring the original, unexpired ID whose name matches your registration exactly.