What is Scrumban? A methodology you may need to adapt for your organization.

What is Scrumban?

As the name suggests Scrumban is an Agile Management method that consists of management practices of both Scrum and Kanban. It is a hybrid Agile management method that combines the best features of scrum and kanban, making it easier for the team to work with both flexibilities and defined workflow.

SCRUMBAN : Scrum + Kanban;

Scrumban consists of workflow design of Scrum and Visualization of Kanban allowing teams to have both Agility and simplicity, while not requiring predefined roles and not restricting to implementation of the new process early. Thus, Scrumban enables a highly versatile approach to workflow management.

Image Choosing both Scrum and Kanban

What features are added from Scrum methodology and Kanban methodology in Scrumban?

Scrumban Methodology consists of the following features of Scrum:

1. Iteration planning, synced with reviews and retrospectives, at regular intervals.
2. Determine how much work they can fit into the sprint depending on the task’s complexity and the sprint’s length.
3. Before beginning development, ensure that the essential level of analysis has been completed (Definition of Ready)
4. Prioritization on-demand — gives the team the best next project to work on — no more, no less.
5. To organize the workflow, use the “Ready” queue between backlog and Doing.

Scrumban Methodology consists of the following features of Kanban:

1. Pull system and continuous workflow: As the team’s capability allows, pull items into Doing.
2. Restrictions on the number of things in progress at any given time (WIP): Explicit limits on the number of items in progress at any given moment (WIP).
3. Individual roles aren’t defined clearly.
4. Short lead times — focus heavily on just-in-time planning and analysis (rather than batch-processing for iteration planning estimations)
5. Process buffers and flow diagrams can be used to reveal process flaws and possibilities for improvement.
6. Focus on cycle time rather than burndown (if cycle time is predictable, burndown is predictable).
7. To make process step transitions more apparent, use policies.

Hence it is important to know how this concept came into play and in which scenario would this be appropriate to work. Scrumban is a great solution for teams who need the structure of scrum with the flexibility of Kanban. Mostly Scrumban is used as a transition point between a less mature and more mature Agile practice.

Scrumban

Key Takeaway:

• Scrumban employs a hybrid of both methodologies.
• It combines the basics of Scrum with the flexibility of Kanban.
• Scrumban has a slightly constricted method in which prioritization is optional, although it is strongly encouraged throughout each planning session, which is conducted through Kaizen events.
• Scrumban fills the backlog using the planning on-demand principle, and tasks are assigned solely by the pull mechanism, similar to Kanban.
• Similar to Kanban, the board remains constant while the tasks and priorities change.
• Scrumban’s work is normally more focused on planning than releasing; whereas Scrumban’s planning is done only on demand, Scrumban’s planning is done after each sprint.

Best use case scenario for Scrumban: This method is commonly employed in high-speed processes, such as startups or initiatives that demand continuous product manufacturing in a dynamic environment.