Scrum Board vs Kanban Board: Which one to Choose?

Visual boards, such as Scrum Boards and Kanban Boards, are invaluable tools in Agile and Lean methodologies that enhance collaboration, transparency, and project management and software development efficiency. These boards visually represent work, enabling teams to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and ensure smooth workflow management.

Scrum Boards, a vital component of the Scrum framework, use columns and sticky notes or cards to represent tasks and user stories, facilitating teamwork, accountability, and a shared understanding of project status. Inspired by Lean manufacturing principles, Kanban Boards optimize workflow by visualizing the entire process with columns and cards that move based on team capacity and priorities, thus limiting work in progress and streamlining delivery.

By utilizing visual boards and obtaining relevant certifications, like Agile methodology certifications, organizations and professionals can effectively apply Agile methodologies, improve team collaboration, and optimize project management practices. Let's learn more about these visual boards in this article.

Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Comparison Table

Parameters	Scrum Board	Kanban Board
Definition	Visual representation of work items in Scrum	Visual representation of work items in Kanban
Owner	Scrum Team	Entire Team
Work in Progress (WIP)	WIP limits are defined per Scrum Team or sprint	WIP limits are defined per workflow stage or team
Methodology	Scrum, an iterative and incremental Agile framework	Kanban, a Lean methodology for workflow management
Urgencies	Typically handles time-boxed iterations (sprints)	No specific time-boxing, work is pulled as capacity allows
Prioritization	Prioritization within sprints (based on sprint goals)	Continuous prioritization based on business needs
Reports	Burndown charts, sprint backlog, velocity, etc.	Cycle time, lead time, cumulative flow diagram, etc.
Key Metrics	Velocity, sprint burndown, sprint backlog size	Cycle time, lead time, throughput, WIP limits

Difference Between Scrum Board and Kanban Board

1. Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Definition

A Scrum Board is a visual representation of work items in the Scrum framework. It consists of columns representing different stages of the development process, providing visibility into the progress of tasks within a sprint.

A Kanban Board is a visual representation of work items in the Kanban methodology. It uses columns to represent workflow stages, providing a visual flow of work through the system.

2. Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Owner

The Scrum Board is owned by the Scrum Team, including the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team. They collaborate to plan, prioritize, and execute the work items during the sprint.

The Kanban Board is owned by the entire team involved in the workflow. It promotes collective ownership and collaboration among team members.

3. Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Work in Progress (WIP)

In a Scrum board, which is a visual representation of the team's work and progress, the WIP limit is often used to control the number of tasks that can be in progress simultaneously. WIP limits are set per Scrum Team or sprint, controlling the number of tasks in progress simultaneously to ensure focus and prevent overloading the team.

WIP limits are set per workflow stage or team on the Kanban Board, maintaining a balanced flow of work and preventing bottlenecks. In Kanban, the board consists of columns that represent different stages of the workflow, such as "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done." Each column has a WIP limit, which specifies the maximum number of tasks that can be in progress within that column.

4. Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Methodology

Scrum Board is used in Scrum, an iterative and incremental Agile framework. It follows the principles of transparency, inspection, and adaptation, organizing work into time-boxed iterations called sprints.

Kanban is a Lean methodology for workflow management, emphasizing continuous flow, visualizing work, and optimizing the delivery process. Work is pulled based on available capacity rather than time-boxed iterations.

Kanban certifications provide individuals with the knowledge and skills to effectively implement and manage Kanban practices. By obtaining these certifications, individuals demonstrate their proficiency in implementing Kanban methodologies, optimizing workflow, and driving continuous improvement.

5. Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Urgencies

Scrum Board handles time-boxed iterations (sprints), where work is planned based on sprint goals and priorities, managing urgencies within the sprint duration. Scrum primarily focuses on iterative and incremental development, where the team works on a prioritized backlog of user stories or tasks.

In Kanban, emergencies can be addressed and visualized on the Kanban board more explicitly compared to Scrum. Kanban emphasizes flow efficiency and responsiveness to changing priorities, making it easier to accommodate urgent work items. Work is pulled as the team's capacity allows, focusing on flow efficiency and minimizing delays.

6. Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Prioritization

Prioritization is done within sprints on the Scrum Board. The Product Owner, in collaboration with the Scrum Team, defines and prioritizes work items based on business value and customer requirements.

Kanban Board enables continuous prioritization based on business needs. The team can reprioritize work items dynamically, ensuring that the most important tasks are addressed promptly.

7. Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Reports

Scrum Board provides reports and metrics such as burndown charts, sprint backlog, and velocity, helping track progress, identify bottlenecks, and monitor team performance.

• Sprint burndown chart: This chart shows the amount of work remaining in the sprint over time. This can be used to track progress and identify potential problems.
• Sprint velocity chart: This chart shows the amount of work completed in each sprint. This can be used to track the team's productivity and make predictions about future sprints.
• Burnup chart: This chart shows the amount of work completed over time. This can be used to track progress and identify potential problems.
• Status report: This report provides an overview of the project, including the current sprint, the backlog, and the team's progress.
• Risk report: This report identifies potential risks to the project and provides recommendations for mitigating those risks.

Kanban Board provides reports and metrics such as cycle time (time to move through the entire workflow), lead time (time from request to completion), and cumulative flow diagram (overview of work items in different stages). These reports are used to track the progress of the project, identify bottlenecks, and make sure that the team is on track.

• Work in progress (WIP) limit: This report shows the number of items in progress at any given time. This can be used to track the team's capacity and make sure that they are not overloaded.
• Lead time: This report shows the average amount of time it takes for a task to go from backlog to completion. This can be used to track the efficiency of the team and identify bottlenecks.
• Cycle time: This report shows the average amount of time it takes for a task to go from start to finish. This can be used to track the efficiency of the team and identify bottlenecks.
• Throughput: This report shows the number of tasks completed per unit of time. This can be used to track the team's productivity and make predictions about future capacity.
• Status report: This report provides an overview of the project, including the current state of the backlog, the work in progress, and the team's progress.

8. Scrum Board vs Kanban Board Key Metrics

Scrum Board: Key metrics include velocity (amount of work completed in a sprint), sprint burndown (visualization of remaining work throughout the sprint), and sprint backlog size (number of tasks remaining in the sprint backlog).

Kanban Board: Key metrics include cycle time, lead time, throughput (number of work items completed per unit of time), and WIP limits (monitoring work items in different workflow stages to optimize flow).

How they are Similar?

Sprint board vs Kanban board, despite their differences, also share several similarities:

• Visual Management: Both Jira Scrum Board vs Kanban Board use visual boards to represent work items and provide visibility into the progress of tasks. This visual representation helps teams understand the status of work, identify bottlenecks, and promote transparency.
• Continuous Improvement: Both methodologies promote a culture of continuous improvement. They encourage teams to regularly inspect and adapt their processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and productivity. Teams can demonstrate their mastery of specific methodologies and frameworks by acquiring Agile methodology certifications, like KnowledgeHut Agile Methodology certifications. These certifications highlight their commitment to agile principles and practices, making them valuable assets in today's fast-paced and dynamic business environments.
• Work Item Tracking: Both Jira Scrum vs Kanban board focus on tracking and managing work items. They provide a clear overview of tasks, their current status, and any blockers or dependencies.
• Collaboration: Both methodologies emphasize collaboration and teamwork. They encourage open communication, sharing of knowledge, and cross-functional collaboration within the team.
• Flexibility: While Scrum Board vs Kanban Board have their own frameworks, both allow teams to be flexible in managing their work. They have functionalities to change priorities, adapt to new information, and make adjustments to their plans as needed.
• Empirical Process Control: Both methodologies follow the principles of empirical process control, which means that decisions are based on observation, experimentation, and feedback.
• Focus on Customer Value: Both Scrum vs Kanban Board prioritize customer requirements and focus on delivering high-quality products or services.

What Should You Choose Between Scrum Board vs Kanban Board?

Before deciding between a Scrum Board and a Kanban Board, it's important to understand the differences between them. The disparity between these two lies in their underlying frameworks, let's explore: 

• Project Complexity: Jira scrum board is suitable for projects with high complexity and uncertainty, where requirements may evolve over time. Kanban works well for projects with relatively stable and predictable workflows.
• Time-Boxed vs Continuous Flow: Scrum uses time-boxed iterations (sprints), which provide structure and allow for regular planning and review sessions. Kanban focuses on continuous flow without predefined iterations, offering more flexibility in terms of task prioritization and completion.
• Predictability vs Flexibility: Scrum provides a predictable cadence with fixed sprint lengths and a predefined scope for each sprint. Kanban offers more flexibility in terms of task prioritization, allowing you to adjust and reprioritize work as needed.
• Team Size and Structure: Scrum is effective for larger teams with defined roles, such as Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team. Kanban suits smaller teams or teams with more fluid roles, as it allows for more autonomy and self-organization.
• Work Item Dependencies: If your project involves dependencies between work items, Scrum's sprint planning and backlog prioritization can help manage and resolve these dependencies effectively.
• Work in Progress (WIP) Limits: Kanban emphasizes setting WIP limits to manage and optimize workflow. If WIP limits are crucial for your project, Kanban provides a clear framework for implementing and enforcing these limits.
• Continuous Improvement: Both Scrum and Kanban promote continuous improvement, but their approaches differ. Scrum encourages improvement through retrospectives at the end of each sprint, while Kanban emphasizes continuous improvement through analyzing metrics and making incremental changes.

Consider your project requirements, team dynamics, and level of flexibility when deciding between a Jira Scrum Board vs Kanban Board. You can also experiment with hybrid approaches or use tools that offer the flexibility to switch between methodologies based on your project's evolving needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Jira Scrum vs Kanban Board is powerful visual management tools that offer unique approaches to project and workflow management. The Scrum Board is characterized by time-boxed iterations and a structured framework, providing teams with a clear cadence for planning, executing, and reviewing work. On the other hand, the Kanban Board emphasizes continuous flow, flexibility, and real-time prioritization, allowing teams to adapt to changing needs and optimize workflow efficiency. The choice between Scrum Board and Kanban Board depends on the specific needs and dynamics of the project or organization. It's important to consider various factors such as project complexity, team size, predictability, and the level of flexibility required.