Scrum vs Kanban
A common comparison between Scrum's fixed-length, role-based framework and Kanban's continuous-flow, WIP-limited method.
What it means
Scrum organizes work into fixed-length Sprints with defined roles and events; Kanban has no prescribed roles or iterations, instead managing continuous flow with WIP limits and pull-based scheduling.
Scrum fits well when a team benefits from a regular cadence for planning, review, and reflection; Kanban fits well when work arrives unpredictably, such as support or operations, where a fixed Sprint boundary adds little value.
Common mistakes
The two are not mutually exclusive: many teams run Scrum's events for cadence and structure while using a Kanban board with WIP limits to visualize flow inside the Sprint.
Example
A product team uses Scrum for planned feature work, while a co-located support team uses Kanban for reactive ticket handling.