Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Which One to Choose
Visual boards like Scrum and Kanban Boards are crucial in Agile and Lean methodologies, boosting collaboration, transparency, and project efficiency. They represent tasks, aiding progress tracking, bottleneck identification, and workflow management.
Scrum Boards use columns and cards for teamwork and clarity, while Kanban Boards optimize workflows via columns and moving cards. Utilizing these boards and relevant certifications enhances Agile application, teamwork, and project management. Today, we will look at the difference between the both and answer which is best for you. Read on!
Difference Between Scrum Board vs. Kanban Board
Here's a simplified explanation of the key differences between Kanban and Scrum in terms of their work processes:
| Scrum Board | Kanban Board |
| In Scrum, work is limited per iteration, called a Sprint. The development team commits to a specific number of tasks for the Sprint. While there are commitments, all items can be in progress simultaneously. | Kanban limits work in progress for each stage of the workflow. For instance, if the limit for the "In Progress" column is 5, there should not be more than 5 items in that column. |
A Scrum board is owned by a Scrum Team led by a Scrum Master. The team is cross-functional, with all the skills needed for Sprint's tasks. | Kanban boards are not bound to a specific team; they primarily focus on workflow management. |
| The Product Owner can't edit the board once the team has committed to several items for the Sprint. | A Product Owner can edit a Kanban board. Kanban allows different team roles like Service Request Manager as an alternative to the Product Owner. |
| In Scrum, the entire team works collectively on each task. | Team members are responsible for specific steps in the task flow (e.g., coding, testing). Slack resources in Kanban help address bottlenecks. |
| New items cannot be added to the board during a Sprint in Scrum. | Updates on a Kanban board can happen without timeframes as long as work-in-progress limits are maintained. |
Pros and Cons of Scrum Board
Pros
Seamless Integration with Sprints: Scrum Boards are tailor-made for Sprints, ensuring seamless alignment with the Sprint-based work structure. They serve as essential collaboration tools, keeping teams focused on progressing through the User Stories designated for the Sprint.
Comprehensive Sprint Reference: Since the Sprint's content is determined at its outset, all relevant tasks are added to the Scrum Board. This transforms the board into a central reference point for the team, aiding clarity and coherence. In retrospective meetings, the board facilitates a comprehensive review of achievements.
Momentum and Clarity: Sprint-based work generates urgency without inducing panic. The Scrum Board captures the entire Sprint tasks, ensuring each team member knows their next task. This clarity propels work forward at an effective pace.
Structured Progress: Scrum Boards are controlled by the Scrum Master, preventing clutter and confusion. Unlike Kanban Boards, the Scrum Master manages and updates the board, ensuring it remains functional and organized. This enhances its utility and effectiveness as a project management tool within the Agile framework.
Cons:
Scrum Master Control: While Scrum Boards managed by the Scrum Master can be beneficial, they may not align with every team's Agile goals. For teams aiming for a flat, empowered structure, the single-point control of the Scrum Board might hinder agility and rapid decision-making, potentially slowing down progress.
Managing the Product Backlog: Regularly grooming the Product Backlog is crucial to prevent it from becoming overwhelming. Agile projects welcome changes to the backlog, but this can lead to an extensive wishlist lacking clear prioritization. Balancing responsiveness to change with maintaining a manageable backlog is key to effective project management.
Avoiding Backlog Overload: Embracing Agile's adaptive nature can result in a constantly evolving Product Backlog. While changes are expected, the backlog should never become unmanageable. Reviewing and refining the backlog is necessary to prevent it from growing excessively and hindering project execution by introducing unnecessary processes and meeting time.
Pros and Cons of Kanban Board
Pros
Flexible Workflow: Kanban Boards offer adaptable layouts beyond the basic "Backlog," "In Progress," and "Done" columns. Customization is easy with advanced Kanban software. For instance, adding stages like "Ready to Start" and "Awaiting Approval" enhances task oversight, aligning with your team's unique process.
Effortless Integration: Kanban Boards seamlessly synchronize tasks created in other platform sections. Completed tasks automatically transition to the "Done" column, ensuring consistency across the project.
Agile Values: Kanban's flexibility aligns with Agile Manifesto principles, promoting change responsiveness and valuing individuals over rigid processes.
User-Friendly: Kanban's intuitive layout makes it beginner-friendly. Team members, including new additions or temporary staff, quickly grasp its functionality without needing specialized Agile terminology.
Cons
Lack of Built-In Prioritization: Basic Kanban Boards lack an inherent way to indicate task urgency or importance. While they show ongoing work, identifying high-priority tasks can be challenging. Adding a "Priority" column can address this, but a system like a Scrum Board with defined Sprints might be more suitable for more structured prioritization.
Absence of Fixed Timeboxing: Kanban's flexibility might be a drawback for larger, complex projects. Fitting an extensive Work Breakdown Structure onto a Kanban Board can lead to overwhelming clutter. A Scrum Board's time-sensitive Sprints could offer better organization and control in such cases.
Tasks Can Get Stuck: In Kanban, tasks can get stuck in the "In Progress" column if unforeseen issues arise, causing congestion. Unlike Scrum Boards' iterative process with review points, Kanban lacks a systematic approach to address stuck tasks, potentially hampering workflow and progress.
Conclusion
Which One to Choose?
Deciding between Kanban and Scrum Boards isn't straightforward, as project dynamics and team preferences vary. What suits one project might not fit another. Project Managers also have differing views on best practices. Being well-versed in both approaches enables you to decide based on project needs. Ultimately, the choice depends on what brings out the best in your team and project.
Reference
- https://www.coursera.org/articles/kanban-vs-scrum
- https://miro.com/blog/scrum-kanban-boards-differences/
- https://www.forecast.app/blog/scrum-board-vs-kanban-board
