Here's a breakdown of Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and Waterfall—all popular methodologies or frameworks used in project management and software development:
1. Agile
- Definition: A broad project management and software development approach based on iterative development, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing cross-functional teams.
- Key Principles: Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Responding to change over following a plan Working software over comprehensive documentation Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Best For: Projects requiring flexibility and adaptability; fast-paced environments where requirements can change frequently.
- Strengths: Highly adaptable to change Continuous feedback and improvement Promotes teamwork and collaboration
- Limitations: May lack detailed upfront planning Can be challenging in large organizations without structure
- Common Frameworks: Scrum, Kanban, XP, SAFe
2. Scrum (A framework under Agile)
- Definition: A specific Agile framework for managing complex projects, characterized by short iterations called "sprints" (usually 1-4 weeks).
- Key Components: Roles: Scrum Master, Product Owner, Development Team Artifacts: Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment Events: Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective
- Best For: Projects where requirements change often, and teams work in short cycles.
- Strengths: Clear roles and responsibilities Predictable timelines (through sprints) Continuous feedback and improvement after each sprint
- Limitations: Requires disciplined teams Can become rigid if not followed properly Doesn’t scale well in larger projects without adjustments (e.g., use of frameworks like SAFe)
- Ideal Teams: 5-9 members in cross-functional teams
3. Kanban (Another framework under Agile)
- Definition: A visual system for managing work as it moves through a process. Kanban focuses on visualizing tasks (using a board), limiting work in progress (WIP), and managing flow.
- Key Principles: Visualizing work (tasks on a board) Limiting WIP (work-in-progress) Managing flow and ensuring continuous delivery Continuous improvement
- Best For: Continuous, flow-based work like support teams, maintenance, or teams with constantly changing priorities.
- Strengths: Flexibility: No fixed time frames like Scrum Continuous delivery of work Visual management of tasks and bottlenecks
- Limitations: Less structured than Scrum; requires teams to self-manageWithout proper tracking, can lead to uneven workloads or bottlenecks
- Differences from Scrum: No fixed iterations (sprints), work flows continuously based on priority and capacity.
4. Lean (Philosophy rather than a framework)
- Definition: A methodology focused on optimizing efficiency by eliminating waste (any task or process that does not add value). Originally derived from manufacturing (Toyota Production System), Lean principles have been adapted for software development and project management.
- Key Principles: Eliminate Waste: Minimize non-value-adding activities. Optimize the Whole: Consider the entire workflow. Build Quality In: Focus on delivering high-quality output. Deliver Fast: Deliver work quickly to gain feedback. Empower Teams: Give decision-making power to teams.
- Best For: Projects focused on maximizing value and minimizing waste, especially in manufacturing, product development, and processes where efficiency is key.
- Strengths: Increased efficiency and reduced waste Continuous improvement Focus on value and customer needs
- Limitations: Requires a deep understanding of processes to effectively eliminate waste Can be challenging to implement in highly complex or innovative projects
5. Waterfall (Traditional, non-Agile method)
- Definition: A linear, sequential design process where progress flows in one direction—downwards like a waterfall. Each phase must be completed before the next phase begins.
- Key Phases: Requirements gathering → Design → Development → Testing → Deployment → Maintenance
- Best For: Projects with well-defined requirements that are unlikely to change. Suitable for large-scale projects like construction, where each stage depends on the previous.
- Strengths: Highly structured and well-documented process Clear timelines and milestones Better for projects with fixed budgets and scope
- Limitations: Inflexible: Difficult to adapt if requirements change Lack of customer feedback until the final stage Can lead to higher costs if changes are needed late in the process
- Ideal For: Projects where predictability, detailed planning, and upfront requirements are key, such as hardware or large infrastructure projects.
Comparison Overview:
Choosing the Right Methodology/Framework:
- Agile: Use when you need flexibility, ongoing feedback, and rapid delivery. Suitable for most modern software development projects.
- Scrum: Ideal for teams that work well with structured roles and regular sprints, with a focus on incremental improvements.
- Kanban: Use when you want continuous workflow management, especially for operational teams where work is ongoing without defined project end dates.
- Lean: Best for optimizing existing processes, eliminating inefficiencies, and maximizing value.
- Waterfall: Suitable for projects with clear requirements and fixed scopes, where a sequential, linear approach works better (e.g., construction, hardware development).
Each approach or framework has its strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases, so selecting one depends on the nature of your project, team structure, and business goals.