Kanban Vs Scrum: Which Is Right For You?
Choosing the right Agile methodology for your project can be challenging, since there are many different options to choose from, and each has its own unique approach and set of principles.
Some popular Agile methodologies include;
• Scrum
Scrum helps people and teams deliver value incrementally in a collaborative way.
• Kanban
Kanban aims to manage work by balancing demands with available capacity, and by improving the handling of system-level bottlenecks.
• Lean
Lean is defined as a set of management practices to improve efficiency and effectiveness by eliminating waste.
• Extreme Programming (XP)Extreme Programming (XP) is an agile software development framework that aims to produce higher quality software, and higher quality of life for the development team.
• SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)
SAFe promotes alignment, collaboration, and delivery across large numbers of agile teams.
Hybrid methodologies
The hybrid approach is useful because it allows you to: plan and define requirements with Waterfall, and design, develop and implement for Agile.
Now that we know the different Agile methodologies, let’s dive into what Kanban and Scrum are;
Kanban
A framework that focuses on visualizing and limits WIPs and reduces project duration by using Kanban boards to help improve their workflow.
It can also be used to execute Agile software development.
Some roles in Kanban are Kanban board owner, team lead or manager and team member.
The Kanban Process
The motive behind Kanban was to visualize and track progress better and more responsibly.
They even have their own core principles to improve workflow and complete tasks. They are;
Principles of Kanban
- Visualize
- Limit WIPs
- Manage flow
- Transparency
- Feedback Loops
- Continuous growth
Kanban is a good choice for organizations that are into;
• Manufacturing and production.• IT Operations.• Supply chain management.• Healthcare organizations.
Here are a few Kanban Tools that are commonly used:
- Kanbanize,
- KanbanFlow,
- LeanKit,
- Kanban Tools,
- Kanban Board
Scrum
A framework that eases team collaboration and helps track the progress of their tasks through certain processes and practices. It produces results in quick intervals with emphasis on iteration, progress and teamwork.
The reason Scrum is so well known is because it can be used in all types of teamwork situations.
Some Scrum roles are Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team and more.
The Scrum Process
The teams complete certain tasks for every iteration which are called sprints. They are short periods of time where a team decides their work plans.
This helps teams get their desired results with fewer issues and can’t be done without team collaboration.
Scrum is a good choice for organizations that are:
• Software development.• IT.• Product-based companies.• Service-based companies.
Some commonly used Scrum tools are;
- Trello
- Jira
- Asana
- Azure
What is a Sprint?
A sprint is a short period of time where teams decide what they need to work on to ensure that the software is upto the standard they’ve set by giving and receiving feedback and making corrections.
What does a Sprint consist of?
A sprint usually consists of,
- Ideation:
A meet to help team members choose their daily tasks and figure out what they have to finish.
- Daily meetings:
A quick meet to get everything on track and ensure everyone is updated.
- Review:
A meet where the team shares what they worked on and receive feedback for corrections.
- Retrospectives
A meet held after reviews and before beginning new sprints. It is meant for ideation and team collaboration.
Comparing Kanban Vs Scrum
SCRUM KANBAN
| The roles are properly defined. I.e. Scrum master, product developer, and more | The roles are not properly defined, meaning it can change frequently. |
| Teams that are cross-functional are prioritized. | Teams that are specialized in certain fields are prioritized. |
| Teams don’t use visualization processes. | The whole framework is built on visualization processes. |
| Teams use Jira Software, ZoHo Sprints, VivifyScrum, QuickScrum and more. | Teams use Kanbanize, Kanban Zone, Wrike, ClickUp and more. |
| These teams track their progress through sprints. | These teams use task cards to track their progress. |
| The scrum methodology focuses on the backlog. | The Kanban methodology focuses on the process dashboard. |
Which is the Right Framework for you?
Finding the right framework depends entirely on what your requirements are; the smart idea would be to test out both to see which framework suits your organization the best.
Before making your choice, make sure you remember these points;
- Try Scrum and Kanban to see what works better.
- If you want project flexibility, Kanban is your choice.
- If there’s needed collaboration and quick feedback, Scrum is your best option.
Now that it’s easier to compare Kanban and Scrum, you can try to implement both frameworks to find the right one for your team or org.