Scrum and Kanban are two different approaches that embrace the Agile manifesto's values and principles. Scrum is an Agile development methodology that employs specific duties, functions, and products. While Kanban is a method of establishing a consistent flow of work through a visualized process.
Kanban and Scrum are both lean Manufacturing methodologies. They both motivate developers to strive for constant improvement, but both of them target different goals and have different perspectives. Here arises an important question; While managing a project which of them should be used as a better option? In today's post, Let's find an answer to this tricky question!
Let us begin by understanding what Agile is. Agile, is an attractive method of managing projects and creating new software. It acknowledges the cyclical nature of product development and offers the developers a mechanism to change and bring new software. With Agile methodology, developers react fast to market shifts and consumer goods as it focuses more on providing a practical answer to the client's issue rather than producing extensive documentation.
Scrum is led by a Scrum master who uses Scrum's expertise and different techniques including coaching, teaching, and facilitating to assist the developers to produce effective software.
Kanban, on the contrary, does not necessitate the performance of any roles. In most circumstances, a project manager would oversee the team's progress toward its objectives and deadlines.
While in Kanban work is performed continually, team members can begin working on a new task as soon as they are ready to pull work as time constraints are optional in Kanban and the primary goal is to maintain a consistent flow of labor.
Image by Dirk Wouters from Pixabay
Kanban and Scrum are both lean Manufacturing methodologies. They both motivate developers to strive for constant improvement, but both of them target different goals and have different perspectives. Here arises an important question; While managing a project which of them should be used as a better option? In today's post, Let's find an answer to this tricky question!
Let us begin by understanding what Agile is. Agile, is an attractive method of managing projects and creating new software. It acknowledges the cyclical nature of product development and offers the developers a mechanism to change and bring new software. With Agile methodology, developers react fast to market shifts and consumer goods as it focuses more on providing a practical answer to the client's issue rather than producing extensive documentation.
What is Scrum?
Scrum methodology dates back to the mid-1980s and has been a core sub-methodology of agile since 2001. Scrum is a project management framework for structuring work in tiny steps or sprints with ongoing experimentation and feedback loops. As an agile framework, Scrum provides the perfect amount of structure to fit into the workflow.Scrum is led by a Scrum master who uses Scrum's expertise and different techniques including coaching, teaching, and facilitating to assist the developers to produce effective software.
What is Kanban?
Like Scrum, Kanban is also a framework for implementing Agile methodology and developing software but it uses a visual representation to manage workflow. It aims for complete transparency of work and maximum efficiency. Using Kanban benefits developers with more flexible planning options, which could result in a more focused effort as it concentrates on the task that is currently being done. When a task is finished, the team selects the subsequent tasks from the top of the cut.Scrum Vs Kanban:
To reach our final answer Let's have a brief comparison of some important features of scrum and Kanban.1. Responsibilities and Roles:
Scrum has no project manager, rather It has its own set of responsibilities. This includes the Scrum Master, who supervises the task and makes sure that the Scrum rules are followed.Kanban, on the contrary, does not necessitate the performance of any roles. In most circumstances, a project manager would oversee the team's progress toward its objectives and deadlines.
2. Cadence:
Work in Scrum is done in time blocks called sprints. A sprint is a set period during which a team can complete the job they have agreed to do. The goal is to accomplish the work within the specified time range. Work in Scrum comes to an end when the time limit is achieved.While in Kanban work is performed continually, team members can begin working on a new task as soon as they are ready to pull work as time constraints are optional in Kanban and the primary goal is to maintain a consistent flow of labor.
3. Work Limits and Commitments:
Scrum teams hold a sprint planning meeting to figure out which tasks they can complete in a given sprint. They frequently utilize story points as a tool to determine how much work they can commit to.While in Kanban the commitment is to complete the task at hand. Work in Progress (WIP) Limits are a key Kanban principle. Team members only work on a single project at once before moving on to the next. Each workflow state has a work-in-progress (WIP) restriction. Anything beyond that is unacceptable. Kanban is more adaptable in terms of tasks or changes as modifications can be made in the middle of the process.
Now that we have compared Scrum and Kanban, it's time to conclude our question which of them is better? By studying both of them it's obvious that it all depends!
The developers must evaluate their product requirements to determine which methodology is best for them. Scrum may be more appropriate if their needs are uniform or the product is not yet out in the market. On the other hand, if their requirements vary or the product is already in the market, Kanban will be a better option.
The developers must evaluate their product requirements to determine which methodology is best for them. Scrum may be more appropriate if their needs are uniform or the product is not yet out in the market. On the other hand, if their requirements vary or the product is already in the market, Kanban will be a better option.