Scrumban is a hybrid approach that combines elements of Scrum and Kanban to provide teams with the structure of Scrum and the flexibility of Kanban. It is typically used by teams transitioning from Scrum to a more continuous flow model (Kanban) or by teams that want to maintain the iterative nature of Scrum while benefiting from the efficiency and flow management of Kanban.
Here’s an overview of Scrumban:
Key Features of Scrumban:
- Iteration-Based Planning from Scrum:
- Scrumban retains the iteration structure from Scrum, where work is planned and reviewed in short, fixed periods of time (Sprints). However, unlike Scrum, Scrumban may use more flexible planning and avoid fixed-length Sprints.
- Teams often hold Sprint planning sessions where they decide what work to pull into the next cycle based on priorities and capacity.
- Work Visualization and Flow from Kanban:
- Like Kanban, Scrumban uses a Kanban board to visualize the flow of work. Each task moves through different stages (e.g., “To Do,” “In Progress,” “Done”) so the team can easily track the status of tasks.
- The team uses work-in-progress (WIP) limits to ensure they aren’t overburdened, managing workflow more efficiently and preventing bottlenecks.
- Flexible Work in Progress (WIP) Limits:
- WIP limits are applied to each stage of the workflow to control the amount of work the team is handling at any given time. This helps ensure that work is finished before new tasks are started, promoting a smoother and more continuous delivery of work.
- Unlike Scrum’s fixed Sprint backlog, Scrumban allows for more flexibility in the amount of work started and completed within each cycle.
- No Fixed Roles:
- Scrumban does not impose the formal Scrum accountabilities (Product Owner, Scrum Master, Developers) in the same way that Scrum does.
- Teams have more flexibility in defining their roles and responsibilities, typically maintaining their existing structure and focusing on improving processes and flow.
- On-Demand Planning:
- Unlike Scrum’s fixed Sprint Planning event, Scrumban uses on-demand planning, where new tasks are pulled into the workflow only when the team has available capacity.
- When the team is nearing the completion of their current tasks and the WIP limits allow, they pull new work from the backlog without waiting for a formal Sprint cycle to end.
- Continuous Improvement (Kaizen):
- Scrumban emphasizes continuous improvement (similar to Kanban’s Kaizen), encouraging teams to regularly review their processes, adjust WIP limits, and optimize flow. This can be done through regular retrospectives, but they are not necessarily tied to fixed Sprint cycles as in Scrum.
- Fewer Ceremonies:
- Scrumban is less prescriptive about ceremonies than Scrum. While teams can still choose to hold Daily Stand-ups, Reviews, and Retrospectives, these events can be adjusted in frequency and format based on the team’s needs.
- Some teams may choose to eliminate or modify these meetings based on their workflow and preferences.
Benefits of Scrumban:
- Flexibility: Scrumban offers more flexibility than Scrum, especially when it comes to planning and handling work. It allows teams to manage their work based on capacity rather than strictly following fixed-length Sprints.
- Focus on Flow: By incorporating Kanban’s focus on limiting work in progress and optimizing flow, teams can reduce bottlenecks and improve overall efficiency.
- Adaptability: Scrumban is useful for teams transitioning from a strictly iterative approach (Scrum) to a more continuous flow model (Kanban), offering a gradual change without losing the structure they are used to.
- Improved Responsiveness: With on-demand planning and continuous delivery, Scrumban allows teams to respond more quickly to changes in priorities or customer needs.
When to Use Scrumban:
- Transitioning from Scrum to Kanban: Scrumban is often used by teams that want to transition from a rigid Scrum approach to the continuous flow model of Kanban without abandoning all Scrum practices immediately.
- Unpredictable Work: Teams that face frequent changes in priorities or have unpredictable workloads may find Scrumban useful because of its ability to handle continuous and dynamic work.
- Mature Scrum Teams: Scrum teams that are already efficient and self-managing may use Scrumban to remove some of the stricter constraints of Scrum (like time-boxed Sprints) and adopt more flow-based practices.
Summary of Scrumban vs. Scrum and Kanban:
Aspect | Scrum | Kanban | Scrumban |
Iteration Length | Fixed-length Sprints (<= 1 month) | Continuous, no fixed iterations | Flexible, can use iterations or continuous flow |
Work Planning | Sprint Planning at the beginning of each Sprint | Just-in-time planning, tasks pulled as needed | On-demand planning, tasks pulled based on capacity |
WIP Limits | No explicit WIP limits, work is limited by the Sprint backlog | Explicit WIP limits for each stage of the workflow | WIP limits applied, flow managed by capacity |
Roles | Defined roles: Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developers | No defined roles, uses existing team structure | Flexible roles, no specific roles required |
Ceremonies | Defined events: Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Retrospective | No prescribed ceremonies | Flexible, can include Scrum events or modify frequency |
Change Management | No changes allowed during the Sprint | Continuous change is allowed | Flexible, allows changes when capacity allows |
Delivery | Typical Delivery at the end of each Sprint but during the Sprint also is allowed | Continuous delivery | Continuous or iterative delivery based on team preference |
Scrumban allows teams to balance the structure of Scrum with the flexibility and flow optimization of Kanban, making it an excellent choice for teams in transition or those with dynamic workloads.
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