The Kanban methodology focuses on work visualization, maximizing efficiency, and reducing work in progress. Teams following this method are all about limiting the time it takes to bring a certain project from beginning to end. They accomplish this goal through the use of a Kanban board and improving the workflow constantly.
Presently, the Kanban method is used by knowledge workers to improve various areas including cycle time, efficiency, quality, and productivity. Kanban also works well when used alongside Scrum or other Agile frameworks.
A sprint has no particular length of time, but two-week and 30-day sprints are those most commonly used. Scrum Masters are in charge of leading prioritization meetings and Scrum status updates. These team leaders make sure that the team adheres to the standards set by the methodology.
In an efficient scrum team, members quickly learn their roles as time goes on. Their estimates are expected to improve and become more optimized over the course of multiple sprints. Then, depending on the length of the sprint, the team comes up with a shippable product and carries out a retrospective meeting. This helps them make the process better as they move to a new sprint. With such an iterative process, workflow estimations in a scrum framework are more accurate and multiple projects are handled effectively.
On the other hand, a Kanban team doesn’t have a required iteration or time box. Although it’s iterative in nature, constant improvement is expected as work is completed on a regular basis. In the use of Kanban, limitations on certain conditions in the workflow are regulated, at least until an improved set of limits happens to ensure efficient and steady workflow.
When deciding between these two agile methodologies–or whether you should actually invest in an agile framework at all–it’s important to evaluate your business requirements first. Figure out if your priority is to complete a project faster or if you want to improve the overall process. For faster production, scrum would be your best bet. Kanban, on the other hand, works well for improving the process of production.
Scrum and Kanban both have the advantages that come with the Agile methodology, and they both help with project management in a tried and true fashion. However, your decision does not have to be so black and white. Instead of seeing it as kanban vs scrum, you can use hybrid models influenced by both frameworks for a more effective workflow.