Scrum vs Kanban: A Detailed Comparison

Scrum vs Kanban: A Detailed Comparison

Scrum and Kanban are two popular agile frameworks used for managing projects and workflows. While both aim to improve efficiency and deliver value, they approach project management in distinct ways. Understanding their core principles, key differences, and ideal use cases is crucial for choosing the right framework for your team and project.

Core Principles of Scrum and Kanban

Scrum

Scrum is an iterative and incremental framework that emphasises teamwork, accountability, and iterative progress towards a well-defined goal. Its core principles include:

Transparency: All aspects of the project, from requirements to progress, are visible to everyone involved.
Inspection: The Scrum team regularly inspects the project's progress and adapts its approach based on feedback and learnings.
Adaptation: The team is empowered to make changes and improvements throughout the project lifecycle.
Focus: The team concentrates on delivering a small set of high-priority features in each iteration.
Courage: Team members have the courage to speak up, challenge assumptions, and experiment with new ideas.
Commitment: The team is committed to achieving the sprint goal and delivering value to the stakeholders.

Kanban

Kanban is a visual workflow management system that focuses on limiting work in progress (WIP) and optimising the flow of value. Its core principles include:

Visualise the Workflow: Using a Kanban board to represent the different stages of the workflow.
Limit Work in Progress (WIP): Restricting the number of tasks in each stage to improve focus and reduce bottlenecks.
Manage Flow: Continuously monitoring and optimising the flow of work through the system.
Make Process Policies Explicit: Clearly defining the rules and guidelines for how work is handled.
Implement Feedback Loops: Regularly reviewing the process and making adjustments based on feedback and data.
Improve Collaboratively, Evolve Experimentally: Encouraging continuous improvement through experimentation and collaboration.

Key Differences in Roles and Responsibilities

Scrum Roles

Scrum defines specific roles with distinct responsibilities:

Product Owner: Responsible for defining the product backlog, prioritising features, and ensuring that the team delivers value to the stakeholders.
Scrum Master: Facilitates the Scrum process, removes impediments, and coaches the team on agile principles and practices.
Development Team: A self-organising and cross-functional team responsible for delivering the product increment in each sprint.

Kanban Roles

Kanban is less prescriptive about roles. While some teams may adopt specific roles, such as a service request manager or a service delivery manager, the focus is on shared responsibility and collaboration. Existing roles within the organisation can often be adapted to fit the Kanban framework. This can make it easier to implement Kanban within an organisation without requiring significant restructuring. Learn more about Methodology and our approach to agile transformations.

Workflow Management Techniques

Scrum Workflow

Scrum uses a structured workflow based on sprints, which are short, time-boxed iterations (typically 1-4 weeks). The workflow involves:

• Sprint Planning: The team selects a set of features from the product backlog to work on during the sprint.

To Do: A list of tasks that need to be completed.
In Progress: Tasks that are currently being worked on.
Testing: Tasks that are being tested.
Done: Tasks that have been completed.

Tasks are represented as cards on the Kanban board, and they move from left to right as they progress through the workflow. The WIP limits ensure that the team focuses on completing tasks before starting new ones, preventing bottlenecks and improving flow. Kanban also encourages the use of metrics like cycle time and lead time to identify areas for process improvement. Understanding these metrics can help teams optimise their workflow and deliver value more efficiently. Consider our services for guidance on implementing Kanban.

When to Choose Scrum

Scrum is a good choice for projects that:

Have well-defined goals and requirements.
Require frequent feedback and adaptation.
Involve complex and uncertain tasks.
Benefit from a structured and disciplined approach.
Need a dedicated team with specific roles and responsibilities.

Scrum is particularly well-suited for software development, where requirements can change rapidly and frequent feedback is essential. The sprint-based approach allows teams to deliver incremental value and adapt to changing priorities. The defined roles and ceremonies provide a framework for collaboration and communication, ensuring that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goal. If your team is new to agile methodologies, Scrum can provide a structured and supportive environment for learning and growth. Remember to consult the frequently asked questions for more information.

When to Choose Kanban

Kanban is a good choice for projects that:

Have a continuous flow of work.
Require flexibility and adaptability.
Benefit from visualising the workflow.
Need to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks.

• Involve a variety of tasks with different priorities.

Kanban is often used in support and maintenance teams, where tasks arrive continuously and priorities can change frequently. The visual Kanban board provides transparency and allows the team to quickly identify and address bottlenecks. The WIP limits help to ensure that the team focuses on completing tasks before starting new ones, improving efficiency and reducing cycle time. Kanban can also be used to improve existing processes without requiring a complete overhaul. Its incremental approach allows teams to gradually improve their workflow and adapt to changing needs. For example, a team using a waterfall methodology could adopt Kanban to visualise their workflow and identify areas for improvement without completely abandoning their existing processes. Methodology can help you decide which framework best fits your organisation's needs.