What are Agile and Scrum? Differences: Agile vs Scrum vs Kanban vs Waterfall – Techbytes

If you're new to project management, the number of foreign languages and procedures may be overwhelming. After all, project managers perform a variety of tasks and responsibilities as part of their day-to-day work activities.

Project managers are accountable for developing an effective project plan, as well as the required supporting documents for the projects they supervise. They are responsible for identifying and mitigating risks connected with their initiatives. They are responsible for ensuring that projects adhere to their different restrictions. The list could go on and on.

However, before delving further into those specifics, you must choose the appropriate project management technique to lead your efforts and shepherd your project to completion.

There are many methods to select from, each of which is ideally suited for a certain kind of project. Agile and Scrum are two of the most popular (and often misunderstood) project management methodologies. Given their similarities, it's understandable why they're sometimes mistaken, but they are, in reality, two different ideas.

Here's an overview of what Scrum and Agile project management are, how they vary, and how to select the best method for your project.

Agile Project Management - What Is It?

Simply said, agile project management is a philosophy or methodology for managing projects that take an iterative approach to project completion.

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), the Agile methodology aims to provide early, quantifiable returns on investment (ROI) via specified, iterative delivery of product features.

Due to the iterative nature of Agile methods, ongoing interaction with the client is required to ensure that expectations are matched and enable the project manager to adjust to processing changes.

According to Joseph Griffin, an assistant teaching professor at Northeastern's Master of Project Management program, "Agile is mainly a project management philosophy based on particular values and concepts." Consider Agile in broad terms as a guiding philosophy for how we approach project work. "

Agile approaches are defined by their core ideas and concepts, which may then be implemented across a variety of distinct, specific methods.
For example, if you manage your projects using an Agile philosophy, you'll want to maintain regular contact with the client and/or end-users; you'll commit to a more fluid understanding of scope that may evolve in response to end-user feedback, and you will take an iterative strategy to deliver the scope of work.
Numerous project management methods are utilized to carry out the Agile concept. Kanban, Extreme Programming (XP), and Scrum are three of the most popular.

Scrum Project Management - What Is It?

Scrum project management is a very popular Agile methodology for project managers to adopt. While Agile is a mindset or attitude, Scrum is a technique for managing projects. It establishes a procedure for determining who will do the job, how the work will be performed, and when it will be completed.

The project team, headed by the project manager, in Scrum project management is composed of a product owner, a scrum master, and additional cross-functional team members. The product owner is liable for the product's value maximization, while the scrum master is accountable for ensuring that the project team adheres to the Scrum process.

Scrum is a technique that is defined by brief periods or "sprints" during which project activity happens. During sprint planning, the project team selects a small portion of the scope that will be accomplished during the next sprint, which is typically two to four weeks long.

After the sprint, this work should be completed and ready for delivery to the customer. Finally, the sprint concludes with a review and retrospective—or, more precisely, with lessons learned. This cycle is repeated throughout the project's lifetime to ensure that the full scope of work is completed.

This closely resembles elements of conventional project management in many respects. One significant distinction, though, is how "shippable" parts of the project are created along the route rather than delivering everything at the end. This approach enables the customer to see the project's value during the process, rather than waiting until the project is completed to see the outcomes.

What Is the Distinction Between Agile and Scrum?

On the surface, it's simple to understand why Agile and Scrum are often misunderstood since both processes depend on iteration, regular client contact, and collaborative decision-making. While Agile is a project management philosophy based on a core set of values or principles, Scrum is a particular Agile technique used to assist a project. Additionally, there are several significant distinctions between Agile and Scrum.

Differences: Agile vs Scrum

• Agile is a concept, while Scrum is a methodological variant of Agile.
• Scrum divides the project into shorter sprints and smaller deliverables, while Agile delivers everything at the conclusion of the project.
• Agile projects contain individuals from a variety of cross-functional teams, while Scrum projects include people who fill particular responsibilities, such as Scrum Master and Product Owner.
• It's important to note that, although Scrum is an Agile methodology, Agile does not necessarily imply Scrum—there are many Agile project management methods.

Agile Methodologies vs. Other Methodologies

Even though Scrum and Agile get most of the emphasis, there are other methods to be aware of. The following table compares Agile to Waterfall and Kanban, two widely used project management methodologies.

Waterfall vs. Agile

Waterfall project management is another common method for managing projects that takes a different approach from Agile. While Agile is an iterative and adaptable method of project management, Waterfall is a linear process that prohibits reviewing prior stages and phases.

The waterfall is ideal for small projects with well-defined end objectives, while Agile is optimal for big projects requiring more flexibility. Another significant distinction between these two methods is the extent to which stakeholders are involved. Clients are usually excluded from Waterfall projects, while customer input is critical in Agile.

Kanban vs. Agile

Kanban project management is a kind of Agile approach that aims to enhance the project management process via the use of a tool called a Kanban board to visualize the workflow. A Kanban board is comprised of columns that represent each stage of the project management process, with tasks represented by cards or sticky notes placed on the appropriate stage. The cards will be moved from column to column on the board as the project develops.
A significant distinction between Kanban and other Agile methods, such as Scrum, is that there are usually constraints on the number of tasks completed concurrently. Typically, project management teams allocate a fixed amount of tasks to each column on the board, meaning that new tasks begin until previous ones are finished.

Agile vs. Scrum: Which Project Methodology Is Right for You?

Once you have a firm grasp of what Agile and Scrum are and how they interact, you may consider using these methodologies on your own projects. However, given the distinctions between the two, there should not be a debate about whether to use the Agile or Scrum methodology.

Rather than that, if you determine that an Agile approach is appropriate for a certain project, the issue is which Agile technique to employ. Scrum may be the solution, or it may be one of the many other Agile methods available.
To determine if Agile is the appropriate approach for your project, you must examine the particular needs and constraints involved. Agile was initially developed for software development projects and is very successful in this environment. Keeping this in mind, an Agile methodology will not work for projects with a very tight scope and development needs. However, the Agile philosophy's guiding principles are extensively used for a variety of different kinds of projects.

If an Agile approach is appropriate for your project, you must decide if Scrum is the ideal Agile methodology for your unique requirements and objectives. Scrum is usually best suited to projects with ambiguous requirements, a high likelihood of change, and/or regular testing.

It's critical to remember that the key to a successful project is not just selecting the appropriate approach, but also skillfully implementing that methodology. To do so effectively, you must have an in-depth knowledge of the technique you eventually choose, in addition to other essential project management abilities. To be effective in their positions, project managers must also be able to communicate effectively, lead a team, exercise critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and be flexible with the organizational dynamics and complexity surrounding them.

"This is why you should see technical abilities as a subset of the skills required to manage successful projects," Griffin explains. "This is why Northeastern's project management program places a premium on developing soft skills such as collaboration, communication, leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, and organizational awareness."

Griffin says that students learn about Agile methods as part of the Graduate Certificate in Agile Project Management program at Northeastern and the Agile specialization within the Master of Science in Project Management degree. More significantly, individuals pursuing a master's degree in project management acquire the ability to:

1.) Manage a larger team

2) Manage a larger project

3) Take a role as a senior project manager