Vinklen

Vinklen is a term used in Dutch-language informal project-management discourse to describe the act of marking items on a checklist as completed by placing a check mark. The word is typically used as a verb, with speakers referring to “vinklen” tasks or items that have been finished.

Etymology and spread: Vinklen derives from vink, the Dutch word for a tick or check mark, with the common verb-forming suffix -elen. The term emerged in online forums and team chats within Dutch-speaking work communities and gained traction in agile and collaborative environments during the 2010s. It is largely used in informal settings and is not tied to any single standard framework.

Usage and context: In practice, vinklen is associated with digital task boards, to-do lists, and sprint tracking. To vinklen a task usually means it has been reviewed, approved, or otherwise considered complete, often accompanied by moving the item to a done column or checking it off in the interface. The term emphasizes visible progress and accountability, but it can also reflect a focus on completion metrics over qualitative outcomes.

Criticism and alternatives: Critics argue that excessive emphasis on vinklen can encourage box-ticking behavior, potentially overlooking quality, testing, or user impact. Alternatives and complements include documenting criteria for completion, conducting post-completion reviews, and using metrics that reflect value delivered rather than mere shown completion.

See also: checkmark, to-do list, task management, Kanban, Scrum.