Project management is essential for businesses looking to succeed. By understanding the fundamentals of project management, businesses can ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. Additionally, project managers can help avoid costly mistakes, maximize resources, and ensure the development of quality products. Over the years, project management has evolved, transforming traditional practices of creating, building, maintaining, and delivering products and services.
Now, more and more organizations are focused on customer satisfaction and feedback. This led to the development of processes and terminology called the scrum methodology and agile practices. When starting your project management career, you must know the difference between Agile and Scrum.
Scrum and Agile are frequently confused by many individuals in project management. As a capable project manager, you are familiar with the terminology and procedures associated with working with diverse tools and methodologies. Developing a comprehensive project plan and implementing the appropriate tools and techniques is essential. Compare scrum and agile methods to determine what works best for your project.
To comprehend the difference between agile vs. scrum, let us look at each terminology separately.
In short, the critical difference is that agile is a philosophy about successfully delivering software to the customer. On the other hand, scrum is a methodology for software development teams to follow.
What is Agile?
The Agile framework represents the continuous iteration of development and testing in smaller increments. The goal of an agile process is to complete a project in a shorter amount of time by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable chunks of work.
With the Agile methodology, project managers can more easily update and alter priorities, adjust to new circumstances, and solve problems while saving money and improving efficiency.
An essential part of the agile methodology is a focus on transparency in all interactions between teams, stakeholders, and clients.
What is Scrum?
Let us understand what a scrum master does. The role of a scrum master is to deliver products of the highest quality by utilizing numerous processes and approaches. The well-known American sport of rugby inspires it. The Scrum Master enforces deadlines, ensures Scrum practices are followed, and keeps the team on track.
The project’s success rests in the hands of the Scrum Master, who is responsible for implementing and managing the Scrum framework.
Agile vs. Scrum: key differences
This section will explain the significant differences between scrum methodologies vs. agile.
| Agile | Scrum |
| Agile is a methodology for software development that relies on small, incremental changes. | Scrum is an Agile framework. |
| In Agile, everything is delivered at the end of the project. | Scrum is a framework for managing complex projects by breaking them down into manageable chunks requiring continuous delivery. |
| Agile entails multiple cross-functional teams. | Scrum projects consist of a Scrum Master and a Project Owner. |
| There is no flexibility in the Agile methodology, making it a more rigid approach. | In contrast, Scrum is more adaptable because it responds quickly to change. |
| It is a relatively new idea introduced in 2001. | It has existed since the beginning of the 1990s. |
| The Agile Manifesto’s 12 principles serve as its defining framework. | In the Scrum guide, it is defined by three pillars. |
| The Agile methodology promotes constant participation from the final product’s consumers. Thus, the final product will be more beneficial because of this process. | Every day, team members get together for a “sprint meeting” to discuss the day’s tasks and offer suggestions for improving the project. |
| Deliver and update the software regularly. | When the current sprint’s tasks are done, the scrum master plans the next sprint. |
| Here, customer satisfaction is prioritized by continuously delivering valuable software. | Here, the guiding principle is empirical process control. |
| Face-to-face communication is preferred for achieving the desired outcome. | The objective of the Scrum team from the beginning to the end of the project is to deliver the most business value possible. |
| The design and implementation are straightforward., | Both the concept and the execution are innovative and bold. |
| The best indicator of success is functional software. | Having successfully implemented software is not viewed as a prerequisite for achievement. |
| A vital component of this approach is strong leadership. | No one person is in charge of the Scrum project; everyone works together. |
Agile Vs. Scrum: similarities
Once you are aware of the critical differences between the two, It’s time to know the similarities between scrum and agile.
Scrum’s goals and aims are the same as Agile’s since they are both components of the same framework. If you’re using Scrum properly, you’re already employing Agile principles. The ideals and principles outlined in the Agile Manifesto can be seen in the Scrum Guide.
That is why both terms are perhaps used interchangeably. Agile and Scrum require training and education for team members before they can be implemented in an organization or for a specific project. The use of Agile and Scrum guarantees a smooth transition and quicker completion of all projects.
Scrum is just a more refined approach to reaching that objective. They share features such as collaborative iterations and an emphasis on fostering a flexible setting. The Scrum approach is indeed more adaptable in dynamic environments, but it’s also true that, as a framework, it may be too prescriptive.
Agile Or Scrum: which one to choose?
Since scrum is one of the most prominent Agile framework implementations, you must understand agile and scrum methodology to decide what to employ for your project. Both have numerous similarities and differences.
When customers don’t know what they want, the Agile method works well since it requires fast modifications and flexibility throughout the project. The team must also be flexible and autonomous while implementing the Agile framework.
Conclusion
Whatever the case may be, Agile and Scrum are not two different methodologies but rather related ones that must be used for the appropriate projects. Selecting Scrum as your preferred method of project management automatically selects Agile.
