What Is The Difference Between Scrum & Agile?
You may have heard the terms “Agile” and “Scrum” but may not necessarily understand the differences between Agile vs. Scrum. So, in this article, we’ll talk about what each framework means and how they’re different in important ways.
Project managers adopt various management techniques to manage and complete a task. For instance, they identify and deal with a project’s risks to ensure it doesn’t exceed the budget.
Agile and Scrum are the most commonly used frameworks depending on the different types of projects. This is because there are similarities between the two, which is why they can be used interchangeably.
We will focus on defining the Agile methodology by comparing Agile vs. Scrum.
What Is The Agile Framework?
The Agile framework represents the continuous iteration of development as well as testing in smaller increments. So, to complete a project, an agile process breaks down into small chunks of tasks for continuous improvements that can be delivered in a shorter time frame.
The Agile approach makes it easier for project managers to improve and change priorities, adapt and deal with problems, and cut costs, time, and inefficiencies.
The Agile Manifesto depends on four fundamental values and 12 core principles for software development:
- Individual and interactions
- Working software
- Customer Collaboration
- Responding to change
What Is Scrum?
Scrum is an Agile method for making products in an environment where things are likely to change.
In Scrum, delivery cycles are called “sprints,” where one delivery cycle usually lasts about one to four weeks.
In Scrum project management, there are
- A product owner,
- A Scrum master,
- Cross-functional teams
The Scrum master is actually in charge of the team, ensuring the team follows the Scrum method. The product owner makes sure the product is as valuable as possible.
A functionality demo is given after every sprint so that teams can get regular feedback before the next sprint. During the project’s lifecycle, this cycle is repeated until all of the project’s goals have been met.
With this framework, it’s the primary job of the Scrum Master to make sure that each project is successful. They must make sure everyone on the team stays on track, deal with and solve any problems, make sure the team is using Scrum methods, and meet deadlines.
The Scrum methodology is built on three pillars:
- Transparency
- Adaptation
- Inspection
What Are The Key Differences Between Agile vs. Scrum?
We will highlight some of the significant differences between Scrum and agile. The primary difference between Agile and Scrum is that Agile is a project management philosophy purely based on a core set of principles or values, while Scrum is a specific Agile method used to run a project.
The other notable differences are:
| Agile | Scrum |
| Agile is a development methodology that employs an incremental and iterative approach. | Scrum is a type of Agile methodology. |
| In Agile, everything is delivered towards the end of the project. | In scrum, the deliverables are broken down into smaller tasks and involve continuous delivery. |
| Agile involves various cross-functional teams. | A Scrum project involves a Scrum Master and a Project Owner. |
| Agile is a more rigid approach as there is no room for changes in the methodology. | In comparison, Scrum is more flexible as it quickly reacts to changes. |
| Each phase of development, such as requirements, analysis, and design, is continuously monitored throughout the lifespan of this process. | Feedback is taken after every sprint. |
| The Agile technique encourages end-user input throughout the process. As a result, the final product will be more helpful. | A daily sprint meeting is held to review and provide feedback on the project’s progress. |
| Deliver and update the software regularly. | When the current sprint’s tasks are done, the Scrum master plans the next sprint. |
| Here, the priority is to satisfy the customer by continuously delivering valuable software. | Here, the core philosophy is based on empirical process control. |
| To get closer to the goal, face-to-face communication is preferred. | From the beginning of the project and all the way through, the Scrum team’s goal is to deliver the most business value possible. |
| The design and execution are kept simple. | The design and execution are creative and experimental. |
| Working software is considered the most suitable measure of success. | Working software is not considered an elementary measure of success. |
| In this methodology, leadership plays a vital role. | In a Scrum project, there is no leader; the entire team handles the project. |
Conclusion
We have covered the major differences between the Agile vs. Scrum frameworks. These differences will help you choose a suitable role for your project. Due to the competitive technology market, companies are hiring Agile developers and Scrum professionals.
Once you know what Agile and Scrum are and how they function together, you can start thinking about how you might use them on your projects. Sometimes you can use a mix of both methodologies to scale a project.
