Software development projects are entirely different from other engineering projects and even unique as it entails high-end collaboration to complete projects efficiently. And this is where agile scrum methodology comes into play. Companies of all sizes are using the methods because of their effectiveness in infusing more collaborative spirit within flexible and adaptable teams. The team members are willing to respond promptly to changes and always ready to meet customers’ demands overnight. Although we know, talk about agile and scrum in the same breath, thinking it to be conjoined twins, agile and scrum are two different methods. Companies can use these in a silo or hybrid form where agile philosophy rests on the scrum framework to create an agile scrum environment.
What is Agile Scrum Methodology?
The best way to understand the methodology is to reframe the question – what is agile and scrum methodology?
The task will be easy because the question bears enough hints about agile and scrum being separate entities. Agile is an incremental approach in implementing projects in which teams can develop the project in small increments to avoid the chances of biting more than they can chew. The process is like the fabled hare and tortoise story that underlines the need for stability and consistency to win the race. Scrum is one of the agile methodologies that revolve around breaking projects into smaller chunks known as sprints. The combination of agile and scrum creates a new methodology in project management that suits businesses intending to complete projects quickly.
It’s a Project Management System
Although considered a methodology, the agile and scrum methodologies are project management systems that work on incremental development. Each process consists of 2 to 4 weeks sprints. The goal of each sprint is to focus on building the most important features first and create a product with the potential of becoming a deliverable product. During the subsequent sprints, more features in addition to the product keep happening and adjusted by considering the feedback of stakeholders and customers between sprints.
The main difference between the agile and scrum methodologies with standard project management systems is that the emphasis is never on building the whole product in one shot. The agile scrum methodology aims to deliver several iterations of a product, like giving more options to stakeholders that convey the highest business value in the least time.
What is Agile?
Agile is a collection of software development methods clubbed together and known as agile software development. The methodologies hinge around the idea of iterative development. Collaborating across teams implements the project, and the solutions and requirements evolve through the collaboration of the units. Generally, the agile processes focus on a disciplined project management method that entails recurring inspection and adaption, self-organization and accountability, a leadership philosophy that encourages teamwork, and a set of engineering best practices. The latter enables the fast delivery of high-quality software by taking a business approach that aligns development with the company and customer goals. Any development that aligns with the Agile Manifesto amounts to agile development.
What is Scrum?
Now, you might wonder if agile does all the heavy lifting in project management, then what is scrum in agile. Scrum is a lightweight process s framework for agile development, much like a photo frame and a sub-set of agile. Scrum is the most widely used process framework whose primary objective is to satisfy the customer’s needs by maintaining a transparent environment for software development. Many people consider it the agile scrum framework because of its compatibility with the agile processes. Scrum aims at maintaining transparency in communication, continuous progress, and collective responsibility.
A scrum process has distinct features that help to distinguish it from other agile processes. Scrum consists of three categories – Roles, Artefacts, and Time Boxes. Scrum deployment during complex software and product development is quite common. Scrum helps organizations smoothly adapt to rapidly changing requirements and create a product that meets the business goals. Scrum can adjust well to the evolving business goals.
The collective benefits of agile scrum methodology include flexibility and adaptability, lower costs, creativity and innovation, quality improvement, employee and customer satisfaction, and organizational synergy. The most significant benefit is the continuous opportunities of improving the product through feedback during the iterations.
