Agile vs Scrum: The Key Differences, Benefits, and Use Cases

The Agile vs Scrum debate is huge, as they’re two of the biggest project management methodologies, and they’re often used together. In fact, the terms scrum and agile are often used interchangeably, which can be confusing.

In this article, we explore the key differences between agile and scrum, their benefits and use cases to help you confidently use the best methodology for your next project.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. So, is There a Difference Between Scrum and Agile?
3. What is Agile Methodology?
4. What is Scrum?
5. Conclusion
6. FAQs
7. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. So, is There a Difference Between Scrum and Agile?
3. What is Agile Methodology?
Show Full Guide
4. What is Scrum?
5. Conclusion
6. FAQs
7. References

So, is There a Difference Between Scrum and Agile?

The agile and scrum concepts don’t describe a different approach to project management. Instead, Scrum is a methodology that uses Agile principles. This is what makes the initial question of Agile vs Scrum confusing. That said, they are still distinct concepts.

What is Agile Methodology?

Agile started over 20 years ago in software development but has now become popular across most sectors, including finance, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

The Agile values were documented in the Agile Manifesto. The 12 principles behind that Agile manifesto emphasize customer collaboration, responding to change, and iterative development.

Essentially, the agile methodology is a flexible approach to project management that prioritizes adaptability and responsiveness, as opposed to traditional rigid, structured, and pre-planned approaches.

Agile teams work with customers to deliver small, meaningful pieces of work as quickly as possible and then change the project plans based on what they learn.

Beyond software development, well-known companies such as Spotify and Netflix follow an agile approach, and their customers now expect regular changes or updates to the navigation, layout, or features on offer.

The agile approach empowers those closest to the problems—the customers, engineers, or designers—to make key strategic decisions about the project rather than executives or account managers who often prioritize different business factors and lose sight of the end-user requirements.

When to Use Agile Methodology

The Agile framework works best when your project has the following properties:

Pros and Cons of Agile Methodology

Here are the key advantages and limitations of this specific framework:

What is Scrum?

The difference between agile and scrum can be confusing—even for experienced project managers! Scrum is the most common implementation of the agile methodology, so they often overlap.

Scrum is the instruction manual for implementing an agile mindset within a team. It adds additional structure and guidance to agile, making it feel similar to traditional project management approaches like waterfall.

Scrum defines the different roles within a team, such as the “product owner” to manage the backlog of work and the “scrum master” to ensure the correct scrum processes are followed.

Complex projects or work are organized into smaller chunks called “sprints“; focused periods of effort to deliver new or improved working software to the customer.

Scrum also defines the meetings that should be held and their purpose, such as “daily planning,” “sprint backlog refinements,” and “sprint planning” to ensure work is prioritized and allocated effectively, and “sprint retrospective” to find ways to improve future sprints.

When to Use Scrum Methodology

Scrum is an excellent project management approach when your project has the following properties:

Pros and Cons of the Scrum Framework

Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of the scrum project management methodology:

Conclusion

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Scrum and agile methodologies are two parts of the same solution and guiding principles. The difference between agile and scrum is that Agile is a project management philosophy that suggests being flexible and iterative in your approach to delivering results.

Scrum is the most popular implementation of those agile project management principles, and that’s where the confusion about these concepts can creep in.

You can still implement an agile approach without following the scrum methodology, but scrum introduces more structure, visibility, and clarity around how the team should work on the project.

One of the easiest ways to fully understand the benefits and use cases of an agile approach like scrum is to compare it with different project management methodologies such as waterfall or lean.

Read more:

• Understanding the Different Project Management Methodologies
• Agile vs Waterfall: The Key Differences Explained

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Joe Crocker

SaaS Product Expert

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Joe Crocker

SaaS Product Expert

Joe is a former police officer with over 10 years of cybercrime detective work under his belt. He's coordinated the response to thousands of complex investigations involving multiple stakeholders, analyzing complex datasets, conducting interviews, and writing comprehensive reports. Joe also served as a hiring manager for 3+ years, growing and managing the unit's team. Upon leaving the police force, Joe began his career in product management, helping companies build and launch digital products. He now brings his many years of experience in cybersecurity and digital product management to Techopedia.

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