Kanban vs. Scrum: What's the Difference?
Kanban is a project management method that helps visualize tasks, while Scrum is a method that provides structure to the team and schedule.
Kanban and Scrum are project management methodologies that complete project tasks in small increments and emphasize continuous improvement. But the processes they use to achieve those ends are different. While Kanban is centered around visualizing tasks and continuous flow, Scrum is more about implementing timelines for each delivery cycle and assigning set roles.
Both Kanban and Scrum borrow from Agile and Lean approaches, though Scrum is often more heavily associated with Agile. That means Kanban and Scrum are both adaptive, transparent, and reduce inefficiencies in the project process.
Choosing between Kanban and Scrum isn’t always necessary. Use both together to maximize the benefits you get from each. Here’s a breakdown of what each is, how they compare, and which to use when.
Kanban vs. Scrum: What’s the difference?
So what are Kanban and Scrum, exactly? Here’s a detailed look at what sets them apart.
What is Kanban?
Kanban is a visual method of project management used to track tasks and reduce inefficiencies in a project. The heart of the Kanban method is the Kanban board—physical or digital—in which phases of the project are divided into columns. Tasks are written on cards that progress from one column to the next, until the task is completed.
Kanban has been linked to several benefits. Kanban increases transparency in a project by visually clarifying what tasks need to be completed and where tasks are piling up. This visual aid makes it easier to delegate resources where they need to go, reducing inefficiencies. A 2021 survey reported that top Kanban benefits included increased visibility of flow, improved delivery speed, and alignment between business objectives, key results, and delivery work.
Kanban uses principles from both Agile and Lean. Kanban can be used easily with other methodologies and is often used in tandem with Scrum in a hybrid process called Scrumban. Scrumban was more popular with Agile adopters, with 9 percent of survey respondents using Scrumban, compared to 6 percent using Kanban according to a 2021 survey.
Other key concepts in Kanban include:
Definition of Workflow (DoW): The DoW defines key parts of the Kanban workflow, such as what units are moving through the board, what “started” or “finished” means, and how long it should take for an item to progress through the columns.
Work in progress (WIP) limits: Teams can set WIP limits in a column, groups of columns, or the entire board. This means a column with a WIP limit of five can’t have more than five cards in it at a time. If there are five, the team must tackle the tasks in that column before new ones can be moved in. WIP limits can help surface bottlenecks in the production process.
Kaizen: Meaning “improvement” in Japanese, kaizen encourages a mindset to continually better the process. This encourages all team members to share their insights and work to improve the team, not just managers.
What is Scrum?
Scrum is an Agile methodology designed for complex projects where it is frequently necessary to adapt to change. Scrum is based on short development cycles called sprints, which generally last from one to four weeks. A Scrum team is self-organized, small (typically no more than nine people), and includes one Scrum Master and one product owner. The rest of the team is called the development team.
As typical of Agile frameworks, Scrum uses an iterative approach to completing projects. Instead of delivering a project all at once, teams complete and deliver tasks in stages. This makes it easier to adapt to changes and evolving priorities.
Scrum is built on three pillars:
Adaptation: Scrum is adaptive, meaning it embraces change. Scrum can easily accommodate a project changing tactical directions.
Transparency: Transparency ensures everybody on the team knows what is going on and why.
Inspection: Team members and stakeholders inspect projects consistently. This encourages a culture of improvement.
Scrum also has five core values: courage, focus, commitment, respect, and openness. These values emphasize the importance of clear and honest communication, as well as a sense of ownership by each member of the team.
Kanban vs. Scrum: Similarities and differences
The similarities and differences between Kanban and Scrum can be summarized as follows:
Kanban and Scrum are both methodologies that allow projects to adapt to change, encourage engagement by all team members, have short development cycles, and increase transparency.
Kanban is a methodology centered around visualizing tasks, while Scrum is a methodology that structures workflow and team culture to deliver projects in short timelines.
Kanban delivers tasks continuously until the project is finished, while Scrum delivers chunks of deliverables in one- to four-week periods.