Agile vs Scrum vs Kanban
Agile is a broad philosophy for managing work in short, flexible cycles, Scrum and Kanban are two specific methods teams use to actually practice it. Scrum works in fixed time-boxed sprints, Kanban is a continuous flow with no fixed sprints.
Agile
An iterative approach to project management and software development that focuses on collaboration, customer feedback, and small, rapid releases.
Scrum
An agile framework used to manage complex work, relying on small self-organizing teams, short iterations, and continuous feedback. Work is done in Sprints.
Kanban
A visual workflow management method designed to help teams visualize work, limit work in progress, and maximize efficiency. WIP limits are its core constraint.
A philosophy or set of values
A specific framework with fixed roles and ceremonies
A visual, continuous-flow method
Iterative, adaptable cycles
Fixed-length sprints, usually 1-4 weeks
Continuous flow, no fixed sprint length
Any team wanting flexibility over rigid planning
Teams that benefit from a regular planning and review cadence
Teams with unpredictable, continuously arriving work
| What it is | A philosophy or set of values | A specific framework with fixed roles and ceremonies | A visual, continuous-flow method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work structure | Iterative, adaptable cycles | Fixed-length sprints, usually 1-4 weeks | Continuous flow, no fixed sprint length |
| Best fit | Any team wanting flexibility over rigid planning | Teams that benefit from a regular planning and review cadence | Teams with unpredictable, continuously arriving work |