Scrumban

How Scrumban Works in Product Management

Scrumban integrates the structure of Scrum with the flow-based approach of Kanban. It allows product teams to benefit from Scrum's iterative planning and Kanban's visual workflow management. This hybrid method is particularly useful for teams transitioning from Scrum to Kanban or those seeking a more flexible approach to Agile project management.

Benefits of Using Scrumban

1. Flexibility: Scrumban adapts to changing priorities more easily than traditional Scrum.
2. Visualization: Like Kanban, it uses boards to visualize work progress.
3. Continuous improvement: It encourages ongoing refinement of processes.
4. Reduced planning overhead: Compared to Scrum, Scrumban requires less time spent on sprint planning.

Implementing Scrumban in Your Product Team

To implement Scrumban:

1. Start with your current process
2. Visualize your workflow using a Kanban board
3. Limit work in progress (WIP) for each stage
4. Use Scrum events like daily stand-ups and retrospectives
5. Plan on demand instead of using fixed sprints
6. Continuously improve your process based on team feedback

Frequently Asked Questions

• What's the main difference between Scrumban and Scrum?: Scrumban is more flexible with on-demand planning, while Scrum uses fixed-length sprints.
• Can Scrumban work for any product team?: Yes, but it's particularly beneficial for teams with varying priorities or those transitioning between methodologies.
• Does Scrumban use sprint backlogs?: Scrumban typically uses a flowing backlog rather than sprint backlogs, allowing for more dynamic prioritization.
• How does Scrumban handle estimations?: Scrumban often uses average cycle time instead of story points for estimations, focusing on flow efficiency.