Agile and Scrum. You’ve likely heard these terms used interchangeably in conversations about project management and software development. While they are closely related, they aren’t the same thing. This confusion can make it difficult to decide which approach is the right fit for your team and projects. To navigate the world of modern project management, understanding the Agile vs. Scrum difference is the first step toward building a more efficient and adaptable workflow. This guide will clarify the Agile vs. Scrum methodology debate.
Think of it this way: Agile is the guiding philosophy, like a healthy diet, while Scrum is a specific recipe you can follow to implement that philosophy. All Scrum is inherently Agile, but not all Agile is Scrum. In this guide, we'll demystify these distinct concepts, explore the key differences in Agile vs. Scrum project management, and help you determine which approach—or combination of approaches—will set your team up for success.
What is Agile?
Agile is not a single, specific methodology but rather a broad project management philosophy that prioritizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer feedback. It originated in software development as a response to the limitations of rigid, linear approaches like the waterfall methodology. This Agile methodology breaks projects down into smaller, iterative development cycles of work. This approach allows teams to adapt to change quickly and deliver value to customers continuously.
The Agile philosophy is defined by the four core values and twelve principles outlined in its founding manifesto. These values emphasize:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Working software over comprehensive documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to change over following a plan
Agile itself isn't a single method with strict rules. It's a mindset that provides a foundation for various Agile framework options, including Scrum and Kanban.
Putting these principles into practice requires a tool that mirrors this flexibility. Lark's customizable workflows and real-time collaboration spaces empower teams to adapt their processes on the fly, truly embodying the Agile mindset.
What is Scrum?
Scrum is one of the most popular implementations of the Agile methodology, a specific Scrum framework for putting the philosophy into practice. Where Agile offers a guiding mindset, Scrum provides a structured process for how teams should collaborate to deliver work. It is designed to help teams manage complex projects through a series of prescribed roles, events, and artifacts. This structure is what distinguishes Scrum from the broader Agile approach.
The core components of the Scrum framework include:
Roles: The Scrum Team consists of a Product Owner (defines the work), a Scrum Master (facilitates the process), and the Development Team (the group of professionals who execute the work). The structure of the development team is cross-functional and self-organizing.
Events: Work is performed in time-boxed iterations called Sprints. Key events include Sprint Planning, Daily Scrums (or stand-ups), Sprint Reviews, and Sprint Retrospectives.
Artifacts: Scrum uses specific tools to manage work, such as the Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and the final product increment.
A successful Scrum process relies on structure and transparency. Lark directly supports this with dedicated task boards that can mirror your sprint stages and smart meeting tools that streamline daily stand-ups and reviews.
Agile vs. Scrum: What’s the difference?
While Scrum is a form of Agile, the two are not interchangeable. The key difference between Agile and Scrum lies in their scope and application. Agile is a broad philosophy with guiding principles, whereas Scrum is a specific, prescriptive Agile framework for putting those principles into action. Understanding this distinction is crucial for effective Agile vs. Scrum project management.
Here’s a breakdown of the primary differences:
Scope and flexibility: The Agile methodology provides a set of values for development. It’s highly flexible and doesn't dictate specific processes, roles, or events. In contrast, the Scrum framework is more rigid. It prescribes a clear structure, including specific roles (Product Owner, Scrum Master), events (Sprints, Daily Scrums), and artifacts (Product Backlog).
Leadership and roles: The Agile philosophy promotes self-organizing and cross-functional Agile teams where leadership is often shared. Scrum defines specific leadership roles. The Product Owner manages the product backlog and represents stakeholders, while the Scrum Master acts as a servant-leader, guiding the team and removing obstacles.
Delivery cadence: The Agile methodology delivers work in continuous, iterative cycles, but the length of these cycles is not strictly defined. Scrum enforces a consistent, time-boxed cadence with Sprints, which are typically one to four weeks long. This creates a predictable rhythm for delivering value.
Methodologies: Agile is an umbrella term that encompasses several different Agile methods and frameworks. Scrum is just one of these framework options, alongside others like Kanban, Extreme Programming (XP), and Lean Development. In the devops Agile vs. Scrum debate, both are seen as complementary approaches to delivering software faster and are key components of modern Agile software development.
Agile vs. Scrum: Use cases
So, which approach is best suited for your project? The right choice depends entirely on your project's complexity, your team's needs, and your organization's culture. There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, but here are some general guidelines to help you decide.
When to use Agile
Adopting an Agile mindset without committing to a specific Agile framework like Scrum is ideal when flexibility is your top priority. Consider using the broader Agile methodology in the following scenarios:
For projects with high uncertainty: When the final product is not clearly defined or requirements are expected to change frequently, an Agile approach allows your team to adapt and pivot without being constrained by a rigid process. This flexibility is a core tenet of Agile project management.
For teams that need a custom-fit process: If your team has unique needs or wants to blend elements from different frameworks (like Scrum and Kanban), starting with Agile principles allows you to build a hybrid Agile methodology that works for you.
For organizations focused on cultural change: Sometimes, the goal is less about a specific process and more about fostering a culture of collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement. An Agile mindset provides the foundation for this transformation.
When to use Scrum
Scrum provides the structure that some Agile teams need to thrive. Its defined roles and events create clarity and a predictable rhythm, making it a great choice in these situations:
For complex projects with clear goals: When you're building a complex product but can break it down into smaller, manageable pieces, the Scrum framework provides the structure to tackle it sprint by sprint.
For teams new to Agile: The prescriptive nature of the Scrum methodology gives teams a clear roadmap to follow. The defined roles, events, and artifacts remove ambiguity and provide a solid starting point for their Agile journey.
For projects requiring predictable delivery: Because Sprints are fixed in length, stakeholders know they will see a new increment of value at the end of each cycle. This predictability is crucial for managing expectations and maintaining momentum.
Whether your team needs the broad flexibility of an Agile approach or the structured process of Scrum, a platform that adapts to you is key. Lark's customizable databases and task boards can be tailored to any workflow.
Agile vs. Scrum vs. other methodologies: Choosing the right project methodology
The project management landscape extends beyond just Agile vs. Scrum. To make the best choice, it's helpful to understand how they compare to other popular methodologies like Kanban and the more traditional Waterfall approach. Each has its own strengths and is suited for different types of projects, and understanding the nuances of Agile vs. waterfall vs. Scrum or Agile vs. Scrum vs. kanban is essential.
Agile vs. Scrum vs. Kanban vs. Waterfall: Pros and cons compared
This table provides a high-level overview to help you compare these four methodologies at a glance.
Regardless of your choice, a central hub for communication and collaboration is non-negotiable. For instance, teams using Kanban can create a board in Lark Base and set up automations to notify the team channel in Lark Messenger whenever a task moves to a new stage, ensuring everyone stays updated in real time.
How to choose the right methodology for your project
Choosing your methodology isn't just a theoretical exercise; it has a real impact on your project's success. To make the right decision, gather your team and consider the following factors.
Assess the stability of your project requirements
Start by evaluating how well-defined your project's scope is. If you can map out all requirements from the beginning and don't anticipate significant changes, the linear structure of Waterfall can be very effective. However, if requirements are likely to evolve as you learn more, an Agile approach like Scrum or Kanban is a much better fit. This allows you to adapt to new information without derailing the entire project.
For teams dealing with shifting requirements, a collaborative tool is essential. Using a shared document in Lark, your team can co-edit user stories and project briefs in real-time, ensuring everyone is immediately aligned on the latest changes.
Consider the nature of your team's work
Next, think about your workflow. Are you working on a distinct project with a clear start and end date, like developing a new software feature? Scrum, with its structured Sprints, is designed specifically for this type of project-based work. On the other hand, if your work is a continuous flow of tasks—like an IT support queue or a content marketing calendar—Kanban’s focus on flow efficiency is likely a better match.
A flexible platform can support both. For example, your engineering team can use Lark Base to create a structured task board for their sprints, while the marketing team uses a Kanban view to manage their content pipeline, all within the same interconnected workspace.
Evaluate your team’s experience with Agile
Your team's familiarity with Agile principles should also influence your choice. If your team is just beginning its Agile journey, Scrum’s prescriptive framework provides a helpful scaffold. The clearly defined roles, events, and artifacts offer a roadmap that can guide a team through the process. More experienced teams, however, may find Scrum's rules restrictive and prefer the greater flexibility of Kanban or a custom Agile development vs. Scrum hybrid.
Determine the level of visibility stakeholders need
Finally, consider how your stakeholders prefer to be updated. Scrum offers a predictable cadence for feedback through its end-of-sprint reviews, which is ideal for stakeholders who want regular, structured updates. In contrast, a Kanban board provides constant, real-time visibility into the status of every task, which may be better for those who want to check in on progress at any time.
Ultimately, the best methodology is the one your team will actually use and that fits your project's unique context. But choosing the right methodology is only half the battle. Your success also depends on having a tool that can adapt to your chosen framework without creating more work. A truly integrated platform like Lark which we’ll explore next provides the flexibility to execute any of these methodologies, ensuring your tools support your process, not the other way around.
Supercharge your Agile and Scrum project management with Lark
Choosing the right methodology is the first step. The second is empowering your team with a tool that streamlines your process instead of complicating it. A truly effective platform should be flexible enough for any Agile framework and integrated enough to eliminate friction. Here's how an all-in-one workspace like Lark can supercharge your Agile and Scrum workflows.
Create a single source of truth with customizable workflows
Whether you choose Scrum, Kanban, or a hybrid approach, your team needs a central place to track work. With a flexible database like Lark Base, you can build the exact workflow you need. Visualize your Scrum sprints on a Kanban board, plan long-term roadmaps with a Gantt chart, or manage your product backlog in a simple grid view—all within the same tool. This adaptability ensures your platform supports your process, not the other way around.
Break down silos with integrated communication
Agile values individuals and interactions over processes and tools. This means communication should be seamless and contextual, not scattered across different apps. In Lark, you can kick off a project with a dedicated project group chat where all discussions, files, and decisions stay in one place, keeping the whole team aligned from the start. Since your chat, task management, and documents are all connected in Lark Messenger, you can create a task directly from a message, get notified about a document comment in your team channel, or start a quick video call with a single click. This keeps everyone in the loop without the friction of switching tools.
Kickstart projects instantly with ready-to-use templates
Adopting a new methodology can be challenging. Instead of building your workflows from scratch, you can use a library of pre-built templates in Lark designed for common business needs like project management, sprint planning, and retrospectives. This allows your team to get started quickly and ensures a consistent approach, while still offering the flexibility to customize the templates to fit your unique process.
👉Try this template – Multi-Project Tracker
Leverage AI to work smarter, not harder
Lark Integrates artificial intelligence to automate manual work and accelerate your team's productivity. Its AI-powered features can automatically summarize meeting notes, highlighting action items and decisions to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Within your project database, AI can help categorize tasks, extract key information from text, and even generate content for user stories, freeing up your team to focus on more strategic work.
Collaborate on key artifacts in real time
Scrum and Agile methodologies rely on living documents like user stories, sprint plans, and retrospective notes. With Lark Docs, your entire team can co-edit these artifacts simultaneously. Inline comments, @mentions, and a complete version history ensure that discussions are tied directly to the work and that everyone is always looking at the most up-to-date information.
Gain full visibility with connected task management
Transparency is critical for both Agile and Scrum. An integrated task management system provides a clear view of who is doing what and when it's due. Lark allows you to create task lists for specific projects, break down large items into sub-tasks, and build dashboards to visualize progress. When tasks are updated, everyone with access sees the changes instantly, keeping the entire team accountable and on track.
Boost efficiency with an all-in-one, cost-effective solution
Adopting an Agile or Scrum framework often requires paying for multiple specialized tools for communication, project management, and documentation. This not only creates silos but adds significant cost. Lark replaces this fragmented and costly tech stack by providing an all-in-one suite of interconnected tools on a single, affordable subscription. Instead of paying separately for various apps for chat, collaboration, and databases, your team can realize significant savings with Lark, all while improving efficiency on a truly integrated platform.
👉Try Lark’s Savings Calculator: Switching to Lark’s Pro plan can lead to significant cost savings— for example, a 100-employee company using Slack, Google Workspace, and Airtable could save approximately $25,200 annually by consolidating their tools with Lark.
Conclusion
Navigating the world of Agile vs. Scrum doesn't have to be complicated. The key takeaway is that Agile is the guiding philosophy, a mindset focused on flexibility and continuous improvement. Scrum, in contrast, is one of the many structured frameworks you can use to put that philosophy into practice. It provides a clear set of rules, roles, and events to help teams manage complex work in a predictable rhythm.
The "best" choice isn't about Agile vs. Scrum methodology in a vacuum; it's about what best fits your project's needs, your team's experience, and your company's culture. Some projects thrive with Scrum’s structure, while others benefit from the broader flexibility of Agile principles or the continuous flow of Kanban. The most successful teams are often those that are willing to experiment, learn, and adapt their process over time.
Ultimately, your methodology is only as effective as the tools you use to support it. By choosing a flexible, all-in-one platform, you empower your team to work their way, breaking down silos and focusing on what truly matters: delivering value. Discover how Lark can help you build a more connected and efficient workflow today.
FAQs
What is the main difference between Agile and Scrum?
The main difference is that Agile is a broad project management philosophy focused on iterative work and flexibility, while Scrum is a specific, structured framework within Agile. Agile provides the guiding principles, and Scrum provides a prescriptive set of roles, events, and artifacts to implement them.
What are the four types of Agile?
Agile doesn't have four "types" but is defined by four core values in the Agile Manifesto. These prioritize individuals over processes, working software over documentation, customer collaboration over contracts, and responding to change over following a plan. Frameworks that follow these values include Scrum, Kanban, and XP.
Is Scrum only for Agile?
Yes, Scrum is fundamentally an Agile framework. Its entire structure, from iterative Sprints to a focus on continuous feedback and adaptation, is designed to implement the core values and principles of the Agile Manifesto. You can't properly practice Scrum without embracing an Agile mindset.
Is Jira Agile or Scrum?
Jira is a popular software tool that is used to support Agile and Scrum methodologies, but it is not a methodology itself. While it is widely used for sprint planning and backlog management, a more integrated platform like Lark can provide a more seamless experience by combining task boards with native chat, documents, and meetings.
