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 the difference between Product Owner and Technical Project Manager?

 

Aspect	Product Owner (PO)	Technical Project Manager (TPM)
Primary Focus	Maximizing product value for users and business	Delivering the project on time, within scope and budget
Owns	The Product Backlog and feature priorities	The Project Plan, schedule, and technical execution
Key Responsibilities	- Define product vision - Prioritize backlog - Write user stories - Accept/reject features - Gather feedback from users/stakeholders	- Manage timelines, risks, and dependencies - Coordinate across tech teams - Report progress - Align technical architecture with delivery goals
Decision-Making	Decides what gets built and why (based on value)	Oversees how and when it gets delivered (based on feasibility)
Technical Involvement	Low to medium	High – often understands system architecture, APIs, dev ops
Stakeholder Focus	Internal users, customers, and business leaders	Engineers, QA, infrastructure, external partners, and leadership
Reporting Line	Often reports to a Product Manager or business unit	Often reports to Engineering, PMO, or operations leadership
Agile Role	Official Scrum role	Not defined in Scrum – typically used in hybrid or scaled Agile environments

🧠 Summary

• The Product Owner is the voice of the customer and decides what should be built based on business value.

• The Technical Project Manager ensures that the product gets delivered on time and correctly, often handling the complex coordination of technical work.

💡 Think of the Product Owner as defining the “what and why,” while the TPM manages the “how and when.”

What is the difference between Scrum Master and Product Owner?

 The Scrum Master and Product Owner are two distinct roles in the Scrum framework, each with complementary responsibilities that ensure Agile teams deliver value efficiently. Here's a clear breakdown:

Aspect	Scrum Master	Product Owner
Primary Focus	Scrum process & team performance	Product value & backlog management
Main Goal	Help the team work efficiently within Scrum	Maximize product value delivered by the team
Role Type	Facilitator / Coach	Business / Customer Representative
Owns	The Scrum process	The Product Backlog
Key Responsibilities	- Facilitate Scrum events - Remove impediments - Coach team on Agile - Promote collaboration	- Define product vision - Prioritize backlog - Write user stories - Accept/reject work
Interaction With Team	Coaches and supports the whole team	Guides the team on what to build and why
Interaction With Stakeholders	Limited (mainly protects team from distractions)	Frequent – gathers requirements, feedback, and sets priorities
Decision-Making Power	No authority over product direction	Full authority over product features and priorities
Mindset	Servant-leader	Value-driven decision maker

🔑 Summary

• The Scrum Master ensures the Agile process runs smoothly.

• The Product Owner ensures the right product is being built to meet customer needs.

💬 Think of it like this:
The Product Owner decides what gets built and why,
the Scrum Master ensures the how gets done effectively.