Kanban and Scrum

Kanban and Scrum are both popular agile project management methodologies, but they have different approaches and principles. Here's a comparison of the two:

1. Basic Philosophy: Scrum: Scrum is a structured framework with defined roles (Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team) and events (Sprint Planning, Daily Standup, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective). It operates in fixed-length time-boxed iterations called sprints. Kanban: Kanban is more flexible and doesn't have prescribed roles or specific events. It's more about visualizing work on a Kanban board, limiting work in progress (WIP), and continuously improving processes.
2. Roles: Scrum: Scrum defines specific roles like Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team, each with distinct responsibilities. Kanban: Kanban doesn't have predefined roles. Team members may have more fluid responsibilities.
3. Artifacts:Scrum: Scrum has specific artifacts like Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and potentially a Burndown Chart. Kanban: Kanban primarily uses the Kanban board as its main artifact to visualize and manage work.
4. Scheduling: Scrum: Work is planned and executed in fixed time periods called sprints, usually 2-4 weeks. Kanban: Work is continuously pulled when capacity allows; there are no fixed timeboxes.
5. Planning: Scrum: Sprint Planning meetings determine what will be done in the next sprint. Kanban: There are no fixed planning events; work is pulled as capacity allows.
6. Work in Progress (WIP): Scrum: Scrum limits WIP through sprint planning. Teams decide how much work they can commit to in a sprint. Kanban: WIP limits are a core feature, and they help teams manage and optimize their workloads.
7. Change Management: Scrum: Changes are discouraged during a sprint to maintain stability. Kanban: Changes can be introduced at any time, and the focus is on managing flow and making incremental improvements.
8. Metrics: Scrum: Scrum uses metrics like velocity and burndown charts to track progress. Kanban: Kanban focuses on lead time, cycle time, and WIP limits to manage and improve workflow.
9. Continuous Improvement: Scrum: Scrum promotes continuous improvement through retrospectives at the end of each sprint. Kanban: Continuous improvement is a fundamental principle, with teams encouraged to make incremental changes as issues arise.
10. Suitability: Scrum: Ideal for projects with well-defined requirements and a need for fixed timeframes. Kanban: Well-suited for more fluid and unpredictable work, where flexibility is key.

It's important to note that both methodologies can be tailored to fit the specific needs of a team or project. Some organizations even use a combination of both, often referred to as "Scrumban," to capitalize on the strengths of each approach. The choice between Kanban and Scrum depends on the nature of the work, team preferences, and organizational requirements.