Scrum vs Kanban: How to Choose a Project Methodology

[jisansorkar12]

Scrum and Kanban are two useful work approaches used in the IT industry. Megaplan has looked into their similarities and differences and learned why Scrum teams work in rhythm, while Kanban adherents will not refuse to make edits.

Similarities
1. Common values

Both Scrum and Kanban are Agile methodologies, a flexible approach to software development used by small teams that want to do their job well, forget about bureaucracy, and work together.

The concepts of Agile and Scrum are sometimes used as synonyms, but this is a mistake. Agile is broader: it is an umbrella term for a number of approaches and techniques. In addition, Agile is a kind of business philosophy.

This approach has its own manifesto, which outlines its values. In particular, the Agile Manifesto proclaims that people and their interactions with each other are more important than processes and tools, and that readiness for change – or, one might say, flexibility – is more important than the team following the original plan.

2. There is no formal leader

Teams that have chosen the Scrum and Kanban approaches are independent units working uk whatsapp list towards a common goal. They do not have a formal leader from the outside; the team is responsible for success or failure together. Therefore, it will not be possible to shift responsibility to Vasya, who submitted the website layout later than the deadline, or to Masha, who forgot to approve it.

It is important that the team has the opportunity to communicate freely and discuss the product.

3. Visibility of processes

Both Scrum and Kanban aim to make the work process transparent so that the customer or team members can see what is happening with the project at any time.

Both methodologies, albeit in slightly different ways, can visualize the workflow using physical or electronic boards. A simple option, found in Kanban, is to move a task through the columns Assigned - In Progress - In Review - Completed - Completed.

Kanban for tasks

Differences
1. Time management

The work of a Scrum team is rhythmic. Employees work in sprints — equal time periods that last no longer than four weeks. Each of them has a specific goal, so the result of each cycle is its achievement. When the sprint ends, the team receives feedback from the customer and moves on to the next goal and the next sprint. Based on the feedback, the next goal may change, but it is not customary to change the planned goals within a sprint.

Kanban has a different story: it is more flexible. There are no time-limited sprints. Work is continuous, and new tasks are added during the process - this is absolutely normal practice. So if the Kanban team is told that there is a need to make changes, then the employees can take on this work immediately, and not during the next sprint.

Also, in Scrum all tasks are ranked by priority, while in Kanban this is not necessary.

Kanban for deals

2. Team organization

Those who choose the Scrum methodology form universal teams. They can include, for example, developers, managers, designers - everyone who is needed for the project and is on the team.

In addition, there are three roles in the Scrum team: the product owner or his representative, who advises the developers and conveys the customer's requirements, the developers themselves, and the Scrum Master. The Scrum Master is the one who teaches how to work according to the principles of the chosen methodology and ensures that the process is successful.

In Kanban, in turn, several narrow-profile teams can work, but no one will forbid creating a universal one. In addition, there are no fixed roles in Kanban. This methodology is considered a balance approach. The main task of such a team is to ensure that everyone works equally: some do not sit idle, and others do not get overloaded.

3. Success indicators

Scrum defines the total weight of project tasks that the team managed to complete in a limited period of time. It is divided by the productivity for the sprint. The result is the time period in which the team should approximately close the project. Team members are aimed at increasing their productivity.

A Kanban team's key performance metric is the average time it takes for a task to move around the board. If it's short, the team has done a good job.

4. Scope of application

Scrum is mainly used in software development, but this approach can also be used in manufacturing industries of the real sector. Kanban, in turn, although it originated in manufacturing, is today most often used for work in IT, marketing, construction, media and recruiting.