Difference between Scrum and Agile Methodology
Scrum methodology is a process based on repetition, with a little amount of progress in each step. This method helps to manage projects and develop software packages. It also supports the testing of recently created software packages. It is a setup that supports development work, on the basis of a set of predefined rules and practices.
Agile methodology, meanwhile, is a procedure for process development, used primarily for software development and implementation. This is an iterative method where the needed result and solutions leading to it emerge through collaboration between self-maintaining teams that though independent, are responsible for affecting one another’s performance.
Work Analogy and Structure
The main positions in implementation of Scrum method are:
- Scrum-Master, who is in charge of processes (analogous to a project manager)
- Product-Owner, who represents the business venture that requires product development
- Team, an interrelated group of developers who produce the actual analysis, create the design, implement it, and test its applications
Major positions of agile system implementation are:
- Customer Representative, who is appointed by a corporation to employ methodologies for obtaining the needed product
- Stakeholders, who require that a commodity or utility be designed
Actual Work Method
In Scrum systems, the team creates a rough draft (for example, working and tested software) called sprint. It is basically a representation of the result needed built on a previous version of the program which is commonly known as backlog. The backlog is a set of defined objectives, which have been given a specific priority-order of execution. The team analyzes the amount of work it is capable of completing during the next sprint. During a sprint, no changes are allowed in the backlog, which means that the new changes cannot be implemented during the execution of the most current sprint.
Developers who use agile methods promote a limit bound system of managing the development of software that has enough scope for a variety of inspections and adaptations. One important feature of agile technique is its accountability. Here, the focus is on a business approach that can give us growth with evolving customer needs and changing company goals. Most agile development methods break the procedure into abstract subsequent steps with no long range plans. Iterations are small time slotted frames(timeboxes), usually of 1-4 weeks. This helps in minimizing the involved risk and lets the process change itself according to requirements.
Role of Teams
Scrum helps in the creation and functioning of self organizing teams by focusing on locating all team members at one location and lays stress on verbal communication amongst all team members. Very often, the customers may change their expected requirements, often called requirements churn. In such cases, scrum method adapts itself by maximizing the output. Yet scrum developers keep in mind that needs of a particular customer can be met only in due course of time.
Formation of work teams in an agile process is mostly interrelated. Team members can be accounted for individual jobs which are essential for the successful completion of iteration. They decide independently how to achieve iteration’s completion. Agile methods lay stress on direct communication, giving it precedence over written communication in case the team members are all at the same place. Moreover, a team distributed over a large geographical area maintains the required contact through videoconference, e-mail, conference calls, meetings, etc.
Summary
Scrum
- Iterative method of project development
- Runs according to predefined rules
- Framework is comparatively rigid, with little scope of making changes at the same time
- Problems faced due to sudden changes, are met at the end of each session or sprint
- Team members are located within a small geographic area
Agile
- Incremental method of software development
- Frequent inspections during run-time to accommodate changes
- Framework breaks task into small segments with less focus on overall processing
- Problems are sorted during each run of the product
- Team members are not bound by location and communicate through electronic media
