Kanban definition
Kanban project management is an Agile framework that focuses on real-time communication of capacity and full transparency of work. Tasks are represented visually on a Kanban board, allowing teams to see the status for every piece of work at any time. The primary objective of Kanban is to match the amount of work in progress (WIP) to the team's capacity, thereby promoting sustainable workflows and continuous delivery.
Scrumban definition
In the realm of Agile project management, Scrumban is a hybrid methodology that merges the structured sprints of Scrum with the visual workflow and WIP limits of Kanban. Initially designed as a way to transition from Scrum to Kanban, Scrumban provides flexibility in planning and focuses on efficiency by reducing the time taken from task initiation to completion.
Kanban vs. Scrumban: similarities and differences
While Kanban and Scrumban both find their origins in Agile project management, and they share several concepts, there are distinctive attributes unique to each. It's essential to understand these similarities and differences to select the most fitting approach for a given scenario.
Similarities
Visual representation: Both methodologies utilize boards (often referred to as Kanban boards) to display tasks, enhancing transparency and communication within teams.
Work in progress (WIP) limits: Both Kanban and Scrumban emphasize the importance of constraining the number of tasks being worked on simultaneously. This ensures efficiency and avoids overloading team members.
Continuous improvement: An inherent part of both approaches is the dedication to ongoing process improvement, aiming to increase efficiency and deliver maximum value.
Pull system: In both frameworks, tasks are "pulled" into the next phase when there is available capacity, rather than being "pushed" based on estimations.
Differences
Iterations: Scrumban uses a combination of sprints from Scrum and the continuous flow of Kanban. Kanban, on the other hand, doesn't operate on sprints but emphasizes an ongoing, steady flow of tasks.
Roles and ceremonies: Scrumban typically retains some Scrum roles (like Product Owner) and ceremonies (like retrospectives). Pure Kanban is less prescriptive about specific roles or ceremonies.
Board structure: While Kanban boards primarily reflect the current state of tasks, Scrumban boards might incorporate elements like sprint backlogs, adding a layer of planning from Scrum.
Planning frequency: Scrumban integrates more frequent planning activities to adjust to the ever-changing requirements, while Kanban focuses on continuous delivery with planning primarily based on capacity.
Metrics: While both utilize metrics to gauge performance and improvements, Scrumban might borrow metrics like velocity from Scrum, whereas Kanban would lean heavily on metrics like lead time and cycle time.
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