Agile vs scrum: A Brief Comparison

It can be overwhelming for a newcomer to the world of project management because many terminologies, processes and methodologies (like lean six sigma) are unfamiliar. The role of a project manager encompasses many different aspects, which are not only a part of their regular day-to-day responsibilities but also a part of their job description.

The project manager is responsible for creating an effective plan and all essential ancillary plans for the projects they supervise. It is their responsibility to ensure that projects remain within their various constraints. Risks associated with their projects are identified and managed by them. It goes on and on.

Before diving deeper into these details, selecting the appropriate project management methodology is essential to guide your efforts and ensure your project’s success.

It is possible to choose from various methodologies, each suited for a different type of project. The two most common but also can be often confusing approaches towards successful project management are Agile and Scrum.

Here’s a look at what Agile vs Scrum have to do in project management, how they differ, and how to choose the correct method for your project.

What is Agile Project Management?

Agile Project management is a project philosophy or framework that behaves as an iterative approach to completing a project. Project Management Institute (PMI) explains that agile project management aims to create early measurable ROI with the defined, iterative delivery of product features. Because of the nature of the agile approach, continued involvement with the clients mFour values drive the Agile philosophy of project management:ust ensure that the expectations are aligned and allow the project manager to adapt to the specific changes throughout the process. Northeastern’s associate professor of Project Management, Joseph Griffin, explains, “Agile is primarily a project management philosophy based on specific values and principles. Agile is a way of approaching project work that serves as a guide.”

The telltale signs of the Agile approach are based on those critical values and principles that can be applied to various specified methodologies. Different project management methods are used to implement the agile process. The most common is Kanban, Extreme programming (XP) and Scrum.

Four values drive the Agile philosophy of project management:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change by following a plan

When should you use Agile?

Agile is an excellent approach for ongoing projects where specific details must be clarified. That’s how agile proves to be a superior methodology for industries that deal with constant or unpredictable changes or teams making a new product.

More traditional project management styles, such as Waterfall, might work better for projects with strict constraints—like a firm time or fixed budget—such as event planning.

What is Scrum Project Management?

Scrum Project Management is a popular Agile Methodology, just like six sigma, among project managers. As opposed to Agile, which can be understood as a philosophy, Scrum, on the other hand, is a specific methodology by which one manages a specific project. As a process, it helps identify the work that needs to be done, who will be able to perform it, and how successfully it will be achieved.

Several people make up the Scrum Project Management team, including the project manager, the product owner, the scrum master, and other members from cross-functional teams within the organization. Product owners are responsible for enhancing the product value for their customers. The scrum master will ensure that the project team adheres to the scrum methodology throughout the project lifecycle.

It is a methodology that uses short-time phases, or “sprints”, when managing the project’s progress. As part of the sprint planning process, the team identifies a small part of the scope that will be completed during the next sprint, usually two to four weeks.

In many ways, this reflects the aspects of traditional project management as it happens in six sigma techniques. One of the significant differences among these is how one creates shippable portions of a project along the way other than just delivering everything at the very end. By doing this, the client will be able to comprehend the value of the project in the whole process rather than just waiting for the results to be seen.

Scrum is built on three pillars:

• Transparency: Everyone involved has complete access to information, including progress and goals.
• Adaptation: The project and work can change to mirror new priorities.
• Inspection: The team continuously strives to improve the product and process.

And five values:

• Courage
• Focus
• Commitment
• Respect
• Broad Mindedness

When should you use Scrum?

A scrum is an excellent approach for dealing with complex but critical projects in different environments. A more traditional approach would be better if you are dealing with the already fixed requirements or any organization that doesn’t allow for a smooth cross-functional collaboration. Like many agile techniques, Scrum is ideal for constantly changing industries or pioneering new projects.

The Difference Between Agile and Scrum

Agile Scrum methodology often needs clarification because both rely on the same iterative process, time-to-time interaction with clients, and collaboration in decision-making. The main difference between them is that agile is a project management philosophical approach that utilizes a set of core values and principles. At the same time, Scrum is a particular agile methodology used to facilitate a project.

There are also some other main differences between Scrum methodology vs Agile. Differences:

• Agile is a unique philosophy, while Scrum is an agile–derived methodology.
• Scrum is usually divided into shorter sprints and small deliverables. On the other hand, in agile, everything has to be provided at the end of the project.
• Agile involves members from different cross-functional teams; a scrum project team possesses specific roles such as product owner and scrum master.

We must remember that even Scrum originated from agile( agile scrum process), but that doesn’t mean agile is just linked with Scrum. Many other different methodologies opt for an agile approach to managing a project.

Agile vs Other Methodologies

We think it’s just scrum vs agile, which is always at the center of attention. Still, there are also some other Agile methodologies that you must be aware of. We have explained some other methods rather than Scrum to have a better understanding of how agile works with them as well.

Agile vs Waterfall

Waterfall project management is another famous strategy that takes a different approach to manage projects than agile. As we know, Agile is a repetitious and adaptive approach, while Waterfall is linear, and it dont allow us to revisit previous steps and phases.

Waterfall works better in small projects with clear end goals; on the other hand, agile is a good fit for large projects requiring more flexibility.

Agile vs Kanban

Kanban project management is also derived from an agile methodology that works to improve the project management strategy through workflow visualization using a kanban board tool. A Kanban board consists of columns depicting a particular stage in the project management process, with sticky notes or cards representing tasks in the right step. These cards will be moving from column to column until they are completed.

The main difference between Kanban and other agile methods is that they are limited to only one task at a time on the board, which means new tasks can not begin until the previous has been finished.

Agile vs Scrum: Choose the Right Project Methodology

Once you have an exact picture of the agile scrum framework, you can think about applying these approaches to your projects. But after going through the differences between these two, it should be clear whether you choose the agile or Scrum approach.

Let’s assume that Agile is the right approach for your project; you must look at the requirements and constraints involved. Agile was created in the context of software development projects and was influential in this arena.

Considering this, agile might not be practical for projects with rigorous requirements. But the guiding principles of the agile approach are widely used across various projects.

Now it’s clear that the agile approach is a good choice for your project; you’ll be determining whether Scrum is the best methodology for your project needs and goals. Scrum is typically the best choice for projects which need precise requirements, are likely to experience any change, or require frequent testing.

It’s crucial to remember that the key to a thriving project is only sometimes choosing the proper methodology but successfully executing it. Doing this requires an expert understanding of the methodology you will employ in your project and would lead your project toward success.

Conclusion

Agile and Scrum process management methodologies can bring ultimate success to your project, just like lean six sigma,  if implemented correctly with excellent execution of techniques involved in both methodologies. We already gave you a clear picture of Scrum vs Agile methods by mentioning their differences. Now it is you who will decide which one goes best for your project. But act smartly while implementing any agile methodology to your business project, whether it’s Scrum, Waterfall or Kanban.