Scrum v Kanban

Scrum and Kanban are two popular Agile project management frameworks that can help teams improve their efficiency and effectiveness. While both frameworks share some similarities, they have distinct differences that make them better suited for certain types of projects and teams. In this blog post, we’ll compare Scrum and Kanban to help you decide which framework is right for you.

Scrum 

Scrum is an iterative and incremental framework that focuses on delivering a potentially shippable product increment at the end of each sprint. A sprint is a fixed period of time, usually between one and four weeks, during which a cross-functional team works to complete a set of tasks. The Scrum framework consists of several roles, including the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team. The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring that the team follows the Scrum framework, while the Product Owner is responsible for prioritising the product backlog and ensuring that the team is working on the most valuable tasks. The Development Team is responsible for delivering the product increment at the end of each sprint.

Kanban 

Kanban, on the other hand, is a framework that focuses on visualizing work, limiting work in progress, and improving flow. Unlike Scrum, Kanban doesn’t have fixed iterations or sprints. Instead, work is pulled from a backlog and moved through a workflow as capacity allows. Kanban boards are used to visualize work and provide transparency into the status of each task. The Kanban framework doesn’t have specific roles, but rather encourages self-organizing teams that are responsible for managing their own work.

Differences between Scrum and Kanban 

There are several key differences between Scrum and Kanban that can impact which framework is best suited for your team and project:

• Fixed iterations vs continuous flow: Scrum has fixed iterations or sprints, while Kanban uses continuous flow. This means that Scrum is better suited for projects with a clearly defined end goal and well-defined requirements, while Kanban is better suited for ongoing projects or work that doesn’t have a clear end date.

• Roles vs self-organizing teams: Scrum has specific roles, while Kanban encourages self-organizing teams. This means that Scrum provides more structure and clarity around responsibilities, while Kanban empowers teams to take ownership of their work.

• Capacity planning: Scrum requires capacity planning for each sprint, while Kanban limits work in progress. This means that Scrum requires more upfront planning and estimation, while Kanban allows for more flexibility in how work is managed.

• Focus on delivery vs focus on flow: Scrum focuses on delivering a potentially shippable product increment at the end of each sprint, while Kanban focuses on improving flow and reducing waste. This means that Scrum is better suited for teams that need to deliver a specific product or feature, while Kanban is better suited for teams that want to improve their overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Conclusion 

Both Scrum and Kanban have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the framework you choose will depend on your team’s needs and the nature of your project. Scrum provides structure and clarity around responsibilities, making it ideal for projects with a defined scope and end goal. Kanban is more flexible and adaptable, making it ideal for ongoing projects or work that doesn’t have a clear end date. Ultimately, the key to success with either framework is to embrace the Agile principles of transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.