What is the difference between Scrum and Kanban?

 Scrum and Kanban are both popular frameworks under the Agile umbrella, but they differ in how they structure work, roles, and processes.

Aspect	Scrum	Kanban
Type	A prescriptive Agile framework	A flexible workflow management method
Work Structure	Time-boxed Sprints (usually 2–4 weeks)	Continuous flow – work is pulled as capacity allows
Roles	Defined roles: Scrum Master, Product Owner, Dev Team	No required roles, but teams often define their own
Planning	Sprint Planning, Backlog Grooming, Reviews	No formal planning events required
Work Limitation	Sprint backlog limits work during a sprint	Uses WIP limits (Work In Progress limits)
Meetings	Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective	Daily stand-ups (optional), and flow reviews
Metrics	Velocity, Burndown chart	Lead time, Cycle time, Cumulative flow diagram
Best For	Teams working in iterations, with evolving requirements	Teams needing flexibility and continuous delivery
Change During Cycle	Not allowed during a sprint	Allowed anytime – very adaptive
Delivery	At the end of the sprint	Delivered as soon as it's ready

🎯 Summary

• Scrum is structured, ideal for teams that benefit from a regular cadence and clear roles.

• Kanban is lightweight and more flexible, great for teams needing continuous delivery and fewer constraints.

🧠 Think of Scrum as working in "sprints," while Kanban is like a "relay race" – keep things flowing.

What is empirical process in Agile scrum?

 In Agile Scrum, an empirical process refers to a way of working that is based on experience, observation, and experimentation, rather than upfront planning and predictive processes. It relies on the idea that knowledge comes from experience and that decisions should be made based on what is known.

Scrum applies empirical process control through three main pillars:

1. Transparency – Everyone involved must have a shared understanding of the process and work being done.

2. Inspection – Scrum events like Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Retrospective allow frequent checks on progress and processes.

3. Adaptation – When things deviate from acceptable limits, the process or work must be adjusted promptly.

This contrasts with a defined process, where everything is mapped out in advance. Scrum embraces change and unpredictability, making empirical process control ideal for complex, rapidly changing projects.

Example of Empirical process:

🟢 Transparency

• The Product Backlog is visible to the whole team.

• Everyone (developers, product owner, stakeholders) can see what features are planned, in progress, and completed.

• During Sprint Planning, the team discusses what they will deliver and why.

🔍 Inspection

• Every day, the team meets in the Daily Scrum to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal.

• At the end of the Sprint, they hold a Sprint Review to inspect the product increment — maybe they demo a working step counter.

• The team also holds a Retrospective to inspect how the team worked together.

🔄 Adaptation

• After feedback in the Sprint Review, they learn users prefer integration with Apple Health over a custom dashboard. The team adapts the backlog and priorities for the next Sprint.

• During the Retrospective, they realize too many bugs came from rushed testing. They adapt by agreeing to write automated tests in the next Sprint.

---

🔁 The Value of Empirical Process

Rather than trying to predict every detail up front (which might fail in a fast-moving market), the team learns by doing, adjusts based on real user feedback, and continuously improves the product and process.