Kanban vs. Scrum: What’s the difference?

Kanban and Scrum, some of the most sought-after and used project management methodologies, are agile techniques to execute projects and deliver outcomes in the most streamlined and time-conscious way possible.

Kanban and Scrum have been making the rounds in the software development community for quite some while now as more and more developers and decision makers have started to turn to them to deliver better results.

Understanding what these two are and how different they are from each other is crucial for any leader so that they can lead the charge effectively when undertaking large-scale software development projects.

Let’s take a closer look at what these two are:

What is Kanban?

Kanban is a methodology that makes use of project management techniques which are more visually directed. Chalking out a map, or a blueprint of sorts that divides and delegates phases of development in a physical manner on a Kanban board is what this methodology is all about.

Tasks are jotted down on cards and progress in columns one after the other. As one chore in the development phase is completed, the assigned person can move down the column and hop on to the next task.

Kanban is a continuing development process that doesn’t stop after creating just one part but rather the entire product. It thus helps enterprises cut down on time and development costs.

It is highly used by teams across varied industries as it visually delegates tasks and makes it easier to understand what lies next in the pipeline, thus reducing any scope of error.

What is Scrum?

An agile methodology revered for its adaptability and effectiveness, Scrum is used by teams when working on extremely technical and complex projects that need iterations and attention to detail in every developmental phase.

Unlike Kanban, Scrum doesn’t target to finish the project in one go. It rather focuses on dividing the project into developmental phases and cycles called sprints which generally last from one to four weeks. This shows that its primary focus is on mastering and delivering one facet of the project before proceeding to the next.

Scrum has a very peculiar team model that is made up of a scrum master, product owner and then the rest of the development team.

Every team member connects frequently and regularly with each other to keep tabs on what task has reached what point in the pipeline to eradicate any future loopholes that might arise.

Kanban vs. Scrum: Which should you choose?

Kanban and Scrum, both are extremely effective and agile ways of getting projects done. Both the methodologies facilitate agile software development and thus pitting the two against each other wouldn’t be just.

If you are to choose between the two, here’s what you should keep in mind.

Scrum is more suitable for complex projects that need constant iterations with changing times and technology. If one of the developmental phases in your project demands more attention to detail than the other and concentrated teamwork all throughout, you can go ahead with Scrum.

It will not only help you drive better outcomes but also boost your team’s productivity and reduce development costs.

Kanban on the other hand should be your go-to option for projects that are not very heavy and complex in nature and can be easily executed in one go.

You can get your entire team involved and make their efforts visible throughout the development process, thus giving them a chance to shine and unleash their creative side all the while forging team spirit.