Agile, Scrum and Kanban

• Agile is a structured and iterative approach to project management and product development.
• Agile methodology is implemented using frameworks, with "Scrum" and "Kanban" being the most common.

Scrum

• Scrum revolves around fixed-length iterations known as sprints.
• Defined as an agile methodology for complex projects, where adapting to change is frequently necessary.
• Scrum uses short development cycles called sprints, typically lasting one to four weeks.
• Scrum employs an iterative approach to complete projects, delivering tasks in stages.
• Pillars of Scrum are Adaptation, Transparency and Inspection.
• Scrum core values include courage, focus, commitment, respect, and openness, emphasizing clear communication.

Scrum Team

• A Scrum team is self-organized and small, ideally with no more than nine people.
• The team consists of a Scrum Master, a product owner, and rest of team is called the development team.

Kanban

• Kanban emphasizes continual delivery by showing the real-time status of all work items.
• Kanban is a visual project management method to track tasks and reduce inefficiencies.
• Kanban board is central, which can be physical or digital; phases of the project are divided into columns
• Tasks are written on cards and progress from one column to the next until completion.
• Kanban originated in a Toyota factory, where cards tracked production progress.
• The method is now used beyond automotive in software, finance, consulting, and other manufacturing sectors.

Kanban Benefits

• Kanban increases project transparency by visually clarifying tasks and potential bottlenecks.
• It facilitates resource delegation and reduces inefficiencies, as highlighted in the 2022 State of Kanban Report.
• Improved visibility of flow.
• Increased speed of delivery or throughput.
• Improved predictability.
• Improved alignment between business objectives, key results, and delivery of work

Kanban Concepts

• Definition of Workflow (DoW) defines the Kanban workflow, specifying units of movement, status definitions, and item progression time through columns.
• Work in Progress (WIP) limits restrict the number of cards in a column to surface bottlenecks and ensure task focus. A column with a WIP limit of five can't have more than five cards in it at a time.
• Kaizen means "improvement" which encourages continuous process improvement and collaborative insights from all team members.

Scrumban

• Scrumban is a hybrid method combining Kanban and Scrum.
• It uses Scrum processes with Kanban visualization tools.
• Scrumban provides a way for teams familiar with either Scrum or Kanban to incorporate the other into their process.

Kanban, using principles from Agile and Lean

• Kanban can be used alongside Scrum in a hybrid process called Scrumban.
• According to the 2022 State of Agile report, 27% of survey respondents used Scrumban, and 56% used Kanban.

Key Terms of Scrum

• Sprint is an iteration lasting one to two weeks, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint demo, and retrospective.
• Sprint Planning Meeting is where the team decides on the features to implement during the sprint.
• Daily Stand-ups are brief, 15-minute meetings to address issues and set goals for the day.
• Sprint Review is when the team presents completed work.
• Sprint Retrospective is when the team evaluates the sprint, noting positives and negatives, and plans process changes.
• Product Owner is the key stakeholder who guides the team with their vision and feature priorities.
• Scrum Master facilitates the Scrum team for effectiveness.
• Scrum Team consists of cross-functional members jointly responsible for delivering quality products.
• Servant Leader focuses on team service, fostering success through listening, coaching, and collaboration.

Kanban vs Scrum

• Both methodologies adapt to change, promote team engagement, use short development cycles, and increase transparency.
• Kanban focuses on visualizing tasks, while Scrum focuses on structuring workflow and team culture.
• Kanban delivers tasks continuously until the project is finished.
• Scrum delivers chunks during one- to four-week periods.

Method Selection

• Kanban improves visibility, encourages continuous improvement, and increases productivity.
• Kanban fits existing processes, including Scrum, providing benefits of agile without overhauling the entire work process.
• Scrum is linked to productivity, faster delivery, lower costs, and higher quality.
• Scrum can accommodate frequent changes and is suited to industries with frequent technology updates or new product creation.