Agile guide · Agile foundations
Types of Agile Methodologies: Scrum, Kanban, XP, Lean and More
"Agile" covers a family of methods that share the same values but differ in structure. Some prescribe roles and ceremonies; others only add a few rules to the way you already work. This guide compares the most common ones and helps you choose.
Key takeaways
- Scrum uses sprints and roles; Kanban uses flow and WIP limits; Scrumban mixes both.
- XP adds engineering practices; Lean removes waste across the whole system.
- Choose by the shape of your work, then adapt carefully.
Scrum
Work happens in fixed-length Sprints of one month or less. A Product Owner orders the backlog, Developers build an Increment that meets the Definition of Done, and a Scrum Master helps the team improve. Best for: product development by a dedicated team. See Agile vs Scrum.
Kanban
Kanban visualises work on a board, limits work in progress (WIP) and manages flow continuously. There are no fixed iterations or prescribed roles, so you can start with your current process and improve it. Teams track cycle time and throughput. Best for: support, operations and any team that receives a steady stream of requests of varying size.
Scrumban
Scrumban combines Scrum's planning and review rhythm with Kanban's flow and WIP limits. Teams often keep regular planning and retrospectives but pull work continuously rather than committing to a fixed sprint scope. Best for: teams moving from Scrum to Kanban, or teams that mix planned feature work with unplanned requests.
Extreme Programming (XP)
XP focuses on engineering practices that keep software quality high while requirements change: pair programming, test-driven development, continuous integration, small releases, refactoring, collective code ownership and a sustainable pace. Best for: software teams that want technical excellence; often combined with Scrum.
Lean
Lean comes from manufacturing. It aims to maximise customer value and eliminate waste, such as waiting, handoffs, rework and unused features. Lean software development, described by Mary and Tom Poppendieck, adapts these ideas to knowledge work. Best for: improving end-to-end flow and decision-making across an organisation.
Crystal, DSDM and FDD
- Crystal (Alistair Cockburn) is a family of methods tailored to team size and project criticality, with an emphasis on people and communication.
- DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Method) fixes time, cost and quality and flexes scope using MoSCoW prioritisation: Must, Should, Could, Won't have this time. It suits organisations that need more governance.
- FDD (Feature-Driven Development) plans and builds by small, client-valued features, with a short modelling phase up front. It suits larger software teams.
How to choose
| If your work… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Is new product development with a dedicated team | Scrum |
| Arrives continuously and unpredictably | Kanban |
| Mixes planned features and urgent requests | Scrumban |
| Needs high software quality under changing requirements | XP practices with Scrum or Kanban |
| Needs governance with fixed deadlines | DSDM or a hybrid approach |
| Spans many teams | A scaling framework |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Agile methodology?
Scrum is the most widely used, often combined with Kanban practices.
Can teams mix Agile methodologies?
Yes. Many teams run Scrum with XP engineering practices and Kanban boards. The key is that every practice serves the Agile values.
How many Agile methodologies are there?
There is no fixed number. The best known are Scrum, Kanban, Scrumban, Extreme Programming, Lean, Crystal, DSDM and Feature-Driven Development, plus scaling frameworks such as SAFe and LeSS.
What is the difference between the Scrum and Kanban Agile methodologies?
Scrum works in fixed-length Sprints with defined roles and events; Kanban manages a continuous flow of work with WIP limits and no required roles or iterations.
What is Extreme Programming (XP) as an Agile methodology?
An Agile method focused on engineering practices such as pair programming, test-driven development, continuous integration, refactoring and small releases. It is often combined with Scrum.
What is Lean among Agile methodologies?
Lean comes from manufacturing and aims to maximise customer value by eliminating waste such as waiting, handoffs and rework. Lean software development applies these ideas to knowledge work.
What is DSDM as an Agile methodology?
The Dynamic Systems Development Method, created by a UK consortium in 1994. It fixes time and cost, lets scope flex and uses MoSCoW prioritisation.
What is Feature-Driven Development as an Agile methodology?
An Agile method created by Jeff De Luca and Peter Coad in 1997 that plans and builds software as small, client-valued features.
Which Agile methodology is best for beginners?
Kanban is the easiest to start because it builds on your current process. Scrum gives more structure, which some new teams find helpful.
Which Agile methodology is used for large organisations?
Scaling frameworks such as SAFe, LeSS, Scrum@Scale and Disciplined Agile coordinate many teams.
How do I choose an Agile methodology?
Look at how work arrives and how it is delivered. Planned product work by a dedicated team suits Scrum; unpredictable requests suit Kanban; software quality problems suggest adding XP practices.