Agile and Scrum are closely related concepts in the realm of software development, but they differ in scope and implementation.
- Definition: Agile is a broad project management philosophy that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, customer feedback, and iterative progress.
- Principles: Based on the Agile Manifesto, Agile promotes adaptability, continuous improvement, and delivering value to the customer frequently.
- Approach: Agile provides a framework for how projects should be managed, with multiple methodologies like Scrum, Kanban, XP, and Lean fitting under its umbrella.
- Flexibility: Agile allows teams to adapt to changes quickly, focusing on continuous delivery and iterative development.
- Definition: Scrum is a specific framework within Agile. It provides a structured process for teams to follow and focuses on short, time-boxed iterations called sprints (typically 2-4 weeks).
- Roles: In Scrum, there are defined roles, such as:Product Owner: Represents stakeholders and prioritizes work.Scrum Master: Ensures that the Scrum process is followed and removes impediments.Development Team: Focuses on building the product.
- Ceremonies: Scrum includes regular meetings, such as:Sprint Planning: Planning work for the upcoming sprint.Daily Standups: Brief, daily meetings to discuss progress.Sprint Review: Presenting completed work to stakeholders.Sprint Retrospective: Reflecting on the sprint and identifying improvements.
- Focus: Scrum emphasizes a highly structured approach to managing tasks within sprints, providing clear guidelines on roles and processes.
- Scope:Agile is a set of principles or an overarching philosophy.Scrum is a specific methodology that follows Agile principles.
- Flexibility:Agile allows flexibility in choosing and adapting practices.Scrum is more structured, with fixed roles and ceremonies.
- Approach to Work:Agile focuses on continuous delivery and adaptability.Scrum breaks work into fixed-length sprints, with defined goals for each sprint.
In summary, Scrum is a practical implementation of the Agile philosophy, offering a structured way to execute Agile principles through sprints, roles, and ceremonies.