Why Applying Scrum With Kanban is Pointless - Uncover the Secrets to Unlocking Your Team's Full Potential

In the realm of Agile methodologies, Scrum and Kanban have long been regarded as two powerful approaches to project management. Scrum, with its defined roles, ceremonies, and time-boxed iterations, provides a structured framework for teams to deliver high-quality work consistently. On the other hand, Kanban offers flexibility and transparency, enabling teams to visualize and optimize workflow.

Individually, both Scrum and Kanban have their merits. However, some organizations attempt to combine these methodologies by applying Scrum with Kanban, hoping to achieve the benefits of both worlds. While this hybrid approach may seem tempting, it is essential to understand why it can be counterproductive and how unlocking your team's full potential lies in embracing either Scrum or Kanban.

The Clash of Principles

Scrum and Kanban have fundamentally different principles that drive their respective approaches to project management. Scrum focuses on iterations, teamwork, and accountability. It empowers teams to deliver incremental value by following predefined roles and ceremonies. Alternatively, Kanban emphasizes continuous flow and optimizing existing processes. By providing a visual representation of work, it allows teams to identify bottlenecks and improve efficiency.

Applying Scrum with Kanban: A Pointless Book!

by Lena Wiese(Kindle Edition)

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11684 KB
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Print length	:	219 pages
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When attempting to merge these methodologies, conflicts arise due to their contrasting natures. Scrum's time-boxed iterations clash with Kanban's continuous flow model, leading to confusion, inefficiencies, and a lack of clarity regarding project progress and deadlines. The rigidity of Scrum's ceremonies may hinder the flexibility and adaptability that Kanban offers, undermining the ability to react quickly to changing circumstances.

The Pitfalls of Overlapping Roles

In Scrum, designated roles such as Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team exist to ensure clear accountability and efficient collaboration. These roles are well-defined and have specific responsibilities. Conversely, Kanban encourages a more adaptive structure, with individuals taking on a variety of tasks based on expertise and availability.

When attempting to merge Scrum with Kanban, the lines between roles can become blurry. Confusion arises as to who has the authority to make decisions, provide direction, or enforce policies. Overlapping roles can lead to a lack of ownership, accountability, and ultimately, a dilution of the benefits both methodologies bring individually.

The Perils of Process Overlap

Scrum has its own set of ceremonies, such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives. These ceremonies ensure transparency, synchronization, and continuous improvement within the team. However, applying Scrum with Kanban can lead to redundant processes.

Kanban itself provides a visual representation of the workflow, enabling teams to identify bottlenecks, prioritize tasks, and continuously flow work. Attempting to incorporate Scrum's ceremonies into this framework can result in duplicative efforts, unnecessary meetings, and a loss of productivity. This overlapping of processes dilutes the core principles of both methodologies and hampers the team's ability to reach its full potential.

Embrace the Power of One - Unlocking Your Team's Full Potential

Instead of trying to merge Scrum and Kanban, teams should focus on understanding the unique benefits each methodology brings and learn to embrace one that aligns with their specific needs and goals. By committing to either Scrum or Kanban, teams can leverage the full power of the chosen methodology and unlock their true potential.

If your team values structure, collaboration, and iterative development, Scrum might be the right fit. Embrace the defined roles, ceremonies, and time-boxed iterations that Scrum offers. By committing to this methodology, you enable your team to deliver consistent and incremental value while fostering collaboration and accountability.

Alternatively, if your team values flexibility, continuous flow, and process optimization, Kanban might be the answer. Embrace Kanban's visualization, workflow management, and continuous improvement practices. By committing to this methodology, you empower your team to streamline their processes, identify bottlenecks, and continuously optimize their workflow.

While the idea of applying Scrum with Kanban may sound enticing, it is ultimately a counterproductive endeavor. Scrum and Kanban possess distinct principles and benefits that, when applied individually, can unlock a team's full potential. Rather than attempting to blend these methodologies, teams should focus on understanding their unique needs and goals and choose the methodology that aligns best. By embracing either Scrum or Kanban, teams can unleash their true power and achieve remarkable results.

Applying Scrum with Kanban: A Pointless Book!

by Lena Wiese(Kindle Edition)

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11684 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	219 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE

Kanban is the perfect strategy for optimising flow, especially when applied with Scrum.

But how do they work in perfect harmony when for years the have been touted as adversaries?

My name is Andy Hiles and as an experienced Scrum Master, Scrum and Kanban trainer and a recognised contributor to the Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams from Scrum.org, I felt there was a gap or lack of practical explanation between the Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams and the content of the Professional Scrum with Kanban course.

So are you confused about the purpose of Story-Points? Have you been asked 'When will it be done?' and not had any confident answer? or indeed provided a velocity or number of sprints as a deterministic solution? Perhaps you are under confident in applying Kanban or unsure of how it could complement your Scrum Team.

My aim for this book was to present a more complete view of how someone could actually utilise the guidance and learnings in a practical way, for teams, in real life. Hence, this book was my way of trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together to fit some sort of practical, relatable experience.

The story follows Katie as an experienced Scrum Master struggling to satisfy the demands of the stakeholders and the management team in her organisation. After a particularly difficult day at work Katie realises that the answer she has been looking for has been hiding in plain sight all along.

With the help of the rest of the Scrum Team and a bit of guidance from an experienced coach, Katie soon learns the power of combining both Scrum and Kanban to maximise value and leverage flow.

★★★★★

Teams and organizations around the world are looking to Agile as a way of providing a simple way of dealing with complex changes while still retaining a level of business agility – the ability to stay relevant in the market place, to fight off the market place disruptors.

Agile has slowly been dominating the approach that many organizations are taking. Frameworks such as Scrum and strategies like Kanban have fought for popularity as teams try to use these tools as a way of managing the complexity and risk associated with building, maintaining and changing products.

In the public domain, Agile communities have tended to side with each technique individually and has ended with lots of media information titled ‘Scrum vs Kanban’, as if it is a choice for one or the other.

This book builds upon the release of the Kanban guide for Scrum teams from Scrum.org that highlights utilizing both techniques together can help teams optimize the flow of value they deliver. Or in other words provide advice and best practices for teams performing complex product change.

Not really such a pointless book afterall!

★★★★★

About the author:

Andy Hiles is a highly experienced Professional Scrum Trainer with Scrum.org and a Professional Kanban Trainer with Pro Kanban.

Andy's career has taken him on a journey from late 90’s web development through professional organisations such as Nokia and IBM to now, where Andy is a professional trainer, coach and consultant. Along the way Andy learned XP, Scrum and Kanban ‘hands-on’, through leading teams of people developing complicated solutions in complex product and service delivery environments.

Andy now works with teams of people at every level to help them work smarter towards achieving their goals. Whether that's through professional personal and group coaching; or coaching Kanban with Professional Scrum, it's always based upon client and customer outcomes in mind.