The terms Agile and Scrum are often used interchangeably in conversations around software development. While they are closely related, they are not the same. One is a mindset. The other is a framework. Confusing the two can create misunderstandings in how development teams are structured and how projects are delivered. This article clarifies what Agile and Scrum are, how they differ, and where common misconceptions come from. If you're navigating Agile vs Scrum in your projects, understanding these differences can help you build better workflows and set realistic expectations for your teams.
Understanding Agile
Agile is not a process or tool—it's a mindset. Specifically, it's based on the agile manifesto, a set of values and agile principles that prioritize:
The 12 Agile Principles
- - Embrace changing requirements, even late in development, to gain a competitive advantage.
- - Deliver working software frequently, ideally within a couple of weeks.
- - Prioritize customer satisfaction through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.
- - Encourage daily collaboration between businesspeople and developers.
- - Build projects around motivated individuals, providing support and trust.
- - Use face-to-face conversation as the most effective way to share information.
- - Measure progress primarily by working software.
- - Promote sustainable development to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.
- - Focus on technical excellence and good design to boost agility.
- - Value simplicity by minimizing unnecessary work.
- - Allow self-organizing teams to create the best architectures and designs.
- - Regularly reflect on team effectiveness and adjust behaviors as needed.
The agile methodology encourages adaptive planning, early delivery, continuous improvement, and flexibility in response to changes. To learn more about the core ideas behind Agile, check out this guide to Agile Methodology.
Agile is implemented through various agile methodologies, including Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), and Kanban. Scrum is the most popular of these frameworks, but it’s not synonymous with Agile itself.
What Is Scrum?
Scrum is a lightweight agile framework used to manage iterative and incremental work. It helps software development teams stay focused, organized, and continuously improve. Scrum follows a set of clearly defined roles, events, and artifacts. You can read more about how it works in practice in this Scrum implementation article.
Scrum involves specific roles:
The scrum master is responsible for facilitating the process and removing any obstacles that hinder progress.
The product owner, who represents the customer and manages the product backlog
The team members, who are responsible for delivering the work
Final Thoughts
In the agile vs scrum conversation, it’s important to distinguish between philosophy and framework. Agile offers guiding principles and values. Scrum provides a structured way to bring those values to life within software development teams.
Both approaches value collaboration and feedback. Both prioritize customer value and working software. The key is to understand your team’s context and choose the process—or combination of methods—that helps you build better outcomes.
In the end, Agile isn’t about doing things faster. It’s about being more responsive. And Scrum gives teams a way to organize around that goal.
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