The Single-Entity Board
Why Most Boards Should Be Boring
The most reliable board pattern in Monday.com is also the least exciting.
One item.
One entity.
One clear meaning.
What "Single Entity" Means
A single-entity board is one where:
- every item represents the same real-world object
- every column describes that object
- status reflects that object's lifecycle
Real-World Examples
Sales Deals
- Item = one deal
- Status = Lead → Qualified → Proposal → Closed
Content Pipeline
- Item = one piece of content
- Status = Draft → Review → Published
Why This Pattern Scales
- reporting stays accurate
- automations stay simple
- users understand the system
When to Move Beyond It
If data is duplicated or reporting breaks, introduce relationships.
See: Master–Detail Boards
Related Reading
- Understanding Monday.com Architecture — The foundational mental model
- Master–Detail Boards — When single-entity isn't enough
- Board Architecture Patterns — All the board patterns explained