Scrum vs Kanban
Both Scrum and Kanban are Agile methodologies used to manage and improve how teams deliver software. They share Agile principles — collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement — but they differ in structure, cadence, and flexibility.
Scrum — The Structured, Time-boxed Framework
What Is Scrum
Scrum is a framework for managing complex projects through fixed-length iterations, called Sprints (usually 2–4 weeks). It’s focused on predictable delivery, team roles, and ceremony-based progress tracking.
Key Elements of Scrum
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Sprint | A fixed time period (often 2 weeks) in which a set of work is completed. |
| Roles | Defined roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team. |
| Artifacts | Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment (the shippable product). |
| Ceremonies | Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-up, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective. |
| Commitment | The team commits to completing a set of work within the sprint. |
Advantages of Scrum
- Predictable cadence (useful for planning & stakeholders).
- Encourages focus, teamwork, and accountability.
- Built-in process for inspection and improvement.
- Ideal for larger teams needing structure.
Disadvantages of Scrum
- Can be rigid — adapting mid-sprint is discouraged.
- Requires regular ceremony overhead (planning, retrospectives, reviews).
- May feel bureaucratic for smaller or fast-moving teams.
Kanban — The Flexible, Flow-Based System
What Is Kanban
Kanban is a visual workflow management system that emphasizes continuous delivery and flow efficiency. Work is represented as cards moving across a Kanban board, and the focus is on limiting Work In Progress (WIP).
Key Elements of Kanban
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Kanban Board | Visualizes work in stages, e.g. To Do → In Progress → Done. |
| WIP Limits | Restrict how many items can be in progress at once. |
| Continuous Flow | No sprints — new work is pulled in when capacity is available. |
| Metrics | Focus on Lead Time, Cycle Time, and Throughput. |
Advantages of Kanban
- Very flexible — you can adapt priorities anytime.
- Reduces context switching through WIP limits.
- Promotes continuous improvement and flow optimization.
- Low ceremony and minimal overhead.
Disadvantages of Kanban
- Less predictability (no fixed time-boxes).
- Harder to communicate progress to external stakeholders.
- Requires disciplined WIP management to prevent overload.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Scrum | Kanban |
|---|---|---|
| Cadence | Fixed-length sprints (timeboxed) | Continuous flow |
| Roles | Defined (PO, SM, Team) | None required |
| Planning | Sprint-based | Continuous / on-demand |
| Work Limits | Sprint capacity | WIP limits |
| Change During Work | Generally discouraged mid-sprint | Allowed anytime |
| Metrics | Velocity, burndown charts | Cycle time, lead time, throughput |
| Deliverables | Increment at end of sprint | Continuous delivery |
| Best For | Teams needing structure and predictability | Teams needing flexibility and flow |
Practical Example
Imagine your team maintaining a large e-commerce platform:
-
Scrum:
- You might use Scrum for developing new features (e.g. checkout redesign).
- The team plans features for a 2-week sprint, commits to them, and delivers an increment at the end.
-
Kanban:
- You might use Kanban for operational or support work (e.g. bug fixes, minor changes).
- Work arrives unpredictably; the team limits WIP and continuously delivers small updates.
In fact, many organizations use Scrum for feature delivery and Kanban for BAU/support work — this hybrid is very common and pragmatic.
Hybrid: “Scrumban”
Some teams combine both:
- Time-boxed iterations like Scrum.
- WIP limits and flow metrics like Kanban.
- Continuous reprioritisation allowed between iterations.
This gives structure with flexibility, especially in evolving teams.
Summary
Scrum and Kanban are both Agile methods but differ in structure and flow. Scrum uses fixed-length sprints with defined roles, ceremonies, and commitments, giving predictability and rhythm. Kanban is flow-based and focuses on visualizing work, limiting WIP, and continuously improving throughput.
Use Scrum where structured planning and stakeholder visibility are important, and Kanban where work arrives continuously and flexibility is key — for example, production support or maintenance.”