Agile guide · Agile foundations
Agile vs Scrum: What Is the Difference?
People often use "Agile" and "Scrum" as if they meant the same thing. They are related but not identical. Agile is a set of values and principles. Scrum is one specific framework, with defined roles, events and artifacts, that puts those principles into practice.
Key takeaways
- Agile is the mindset; Scrum is a framework that applies it.
- Scrum adds three accountabilities, five events and three artifacts.
- Choose Scrum for dedicated product teams; consider Kanban for continuous-flow work.
The short answer
Agile is the philosophy, described in the Agile Manifesto. Scrum is a framework that applies it. All Scrum is Agile, but not all Agile is Scrum. Kanban, XP and Lean are other ways to be Agile.
What Scrum adds
Scrum turns Agile principles into a concrete structure:
- Three accountabilities: Product Owner, Scrum Master and Developers.
- Five events: the Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective. See Agile meetings.
- Three artifacts: Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog and Increment, each with a commitment: the Product Goal, the Sprint Goal and the Definition of Done.
- Time-boxes: every event has a maximum duration.
These rules are defined in the Scrum Guide, maintained by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland and last revised in 2020.
Agile vs Scrum compared
| Agile | Scrum | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Values and principles | A specific framework |
| Roles | Not prescribed | Product Owner, Scrum Master, Developers |
| Cadence | Any iterative rhythm | Fixed-length Sprints of one month or less |
| Rules | Guidance only | Defined events, artifacts and time-boxes |
| Scope | Any team or organisation | Mainly a single team developing a product |
When Scrum is a good choice
- A dedicated, cross-functional team works on one product.
- Work can be planned in fixed-length cycles.
- A Product Owner can make prioritisation decisions.
- The team benefits from a clear structure while learning Agile.
If work arrives unpredictably, as in support or operations, Kanban is often a better fit.
Frequently asked questions
Agile vs Scrum: can you be Agile without Scrum?
Yes. Kanban, XP, Lean and many tailored approaches are Agile without using Scrum.
Agile vs Scrum: is Scrum the best Agile framework?
It is the most widely used, but the best framework is the one that fits your work. Many teams combine Scrum with Kanban practices; see Scrumban.
Agile vs Scrum: is Scrum the same as Agile?
No. Agile is a set of values and principles; Scrum is one specific framework that applies them, with defined accountabilities, events and artifacts.
Agile vs Scrum: what are the three roles in Scrum?
Product Owner, Scrum Master and Developers. The 2020 Scrum Guide calls them accountabilities. See the Scrum Master role.
Agile vs Scrum: what are the five Scrum events?
The Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective. See Agile meetings and ceremonies.
Is Kanban Agile or Scrum?
Kanban is an Agile method in its own right, separate from Scrum. It manages continuous flow with WIP limits and has no required roles or Sprints.
Agile vs Scrum: can Scrum be used outside software?
Yes. Scrum is used in marketing, research, education and other fields wherever a small team tackles complex work that can be delivered in increments.
Agile vs Scrum: is Scrum a methodology or a framework?
The Scrum Guide describes Scrum as a lightweight framework. It defines a minimal structure and leaves teams to add their own practices.
Agile vs Scrum: who maintains Scrum?
Its creators, Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland, maintain the Scrum Guide. The current version was published in 2020.
Should a beginner learn Agile or Scrum first?
Learn the Agile values first, then Scrum as a concrete example of them. Understanding why the rules exist makes Scrum much easier to apply.
Agile vs Scrum: what is Scrumban?
A hybrid that keeps Scrum's planning and review rhythm but uses Kanban's continuous flow and WIP limits. See types of Agile methodologies.