Agile, Lean, Scrum… Where do we start?

If you’re new to agile project management, it can seem overwhelming with terms like Agile, Lean, and Scrum floating around. Let’s break it down and give you a clear starting point.

1. What is Agile?

Agile is a mindset and framework for managing projects, especially in fast-changing environments. Instead of rigid planning, Agile emphasizes:

• Flexibility: Plans can change as new information emerges.
• Collaboration: Teams and customers work closely together.
• Incremental delivery: Work is done in small, manageable chunks, delivered frequently.
• Continuous improvement: Teams regularly reflect on what works and adjust.

Think of Agile as the philosophy or umbrella concept under which other methodologies like Scrum or Lean fall.

Principles behind the Agile Manifesto

We follow these principles:

Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer
through early and continuous delivery
of valuable software.

Welcome changing requirements, even late in
development. Agile processes harness change for
the customer’s competitive advantage.

Deliver working software frequently, from a
couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a
preference to the shorter timescale.

Business people and developers must work
together daily throughout the project.

Build projects around motivated individuals.
Give them the environment and support they need,
and trust them to get the job done.

The most efficient and effective method of
conveying information to and within a development
team is face-to-face conversation.

Working software is the primary measure of progress.

Agile processes promote sustainable development.
The sponsors, developers, and users should be able
to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.

Continuous attention to technical excellence
and good design enhances agility.

Simplicity–the art of maximizing the amount
of work not done–is essential.

The best architectures, requirements, and designs
emerge from self-organizing teams.

At regular intervals, the team reflects on how
to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts
its behavior accordingly.

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2. What is Lean?

Lean focuses on eliminating waste in processes to maximize value delivered to the customer. While it originated in manufacturing, its principles are now applied to software development and project management. Core Lean concepts include:

• Value: Identify what delivers value to the customer.
• Flow: Ensure work moves smoothly from start to finish.
• Continuous Improvement: Always seek ways to improve efficiency.

Lean fits perfectly within Agile because it emphasizes speed, efficiency, and adaptability.

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3. What is Scrum?

Scrum is a specific Agile framework. It provides structure to Agile practices by breaking down work into Sprints (time-boxed periods, often 1–4 weeks). Key elements of Scrum include:

• Roles:
  • Product Owner: Defines the work and prioritizes the backlog.
  • Scrum Master: Facilitates the process and removes blockers.
  • Development Team: Executes the work.
• Artifacts:
  • Product Backlog: A prioritized list of work.
  • Sprint Backlog: The tasks for the current Sprint.
  • Increment: The deliverable output at the end of each Sprint.
• Events:
  • Sprint Planning: Decide what to do in the Sprint.
  • Daily Scrum: A short daily meeting to track progress.
  • Sprint Review: Demo the work to stakeholders.
  • Sprint Retrospective: Reflect and improve the process.

If Agile is the philosophy, Scrum is like a recipe for how to put that philosophy into action.

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4. Where to Start?

Here’s a simple roadmap:

Step 1: Understand the Agile Principles

Familiarize yourself with the Agile Manifesto and its 12 principles. This will help you understand why Agile works the way it does.

Step 2: Decide on a Framework

If you’re managing a small team or starting with software projects:

• Start with Scrum for its structure and clarity.
• If your project is more about ongoing workflows (like support teams), consider Kanban, which is part of Lean.

If you do choose to use SCRUM…

If you decide to invest in Scrum training for your team, it’s essential to understand the key roles within the Scrum framework and how they contribute to project success. The Product Owner is responsible for defining the work and prioritizing the product backlog, ensuring the team focuses on delivering the highest value items. The Scrum Master facilitates the process, acting as a coach to the team and removing blockers that could impede progress. The Development Team executes the work, turning ideas into deliverable increments during each Sprint. Effective training ensures that everyone understands their responsibilities, fostering collaboration and improving project outcomes.

However, if your team does not have clearly defined roles or a deep understanding of their responsibilities and how to execute them, your Scrum efforts are likely to fail. Each role in Scrum—Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team—is designed to address specific aspects of the process. Without clarity, confusion or overlap can lead to inefficiencies and frustration. For example, the Product Owner might neglect backlog priorities, leaving the team unfocused. The Scrum Master could become a mere project manager instead of a facilitator, while the Development Team risks working on low-priority tasks or struggling to deliver value.

This lack of clarity and understanding of roles is the #1 reason Agile with Scrum fails. Scrum thrives on accountability, collaboration, and role discipline. Without these, the framework collapses, failing to deliver on its promise of agility and incremental value. Teams end up frustrated, stakeholders are dissatisfied, and the overall effort becomes misaligned with organizational goals. Proper training and role definition are non-negotiable for success.

Step 3: Train the Team

Educate your team on the chosen framework. This might include:

• Training sessions or workshops.
• Assigning roles (e.g., Product Owner, Scrum Master).
• Everyone must understand who is doing what, why and FOLLOW THE PROCESS

Step 4: Pilot a Sprint

Run a test Sprint to learn the process. Start small—pick a 2-week Sprint to deliver one or two key features.

Step 5: Reflect and Adapt

After your pilot Sprint, hold a retrospective to identify what worked and what didn’t. Make adjustments and refine the process.

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Final Tip:

Don’t worry about doing it perfectly. Agile is about iteration and improvement, even in how you implement Agile itself. Focus on delivering value, collaborating with your team, and improving over time.