Introduction
The Scrum framework is usually opposed to what is regarded as traditional project management that proceeds from rigorous goal setting and planning. Instead, Scrum suggests adopting an empirical, test-driven approach to find efficient solutions and respond to challenges that arise during project work. It depends significantly on mutual collaboration and effective communication within a team where every member is ready to adapt to constantly evolving tasks.
Scrum Description
As part of the Agile methodology, the Scrum approach to project management relies on incremental development, working step-by-step to find a solution. The final vision of the goal to be achieved is often unclear, and many details are not specified at the beginning of a project. Therefore, a team follows an incremental path when creating and implementing a product, with a “shorter planning horizon and less commitment” (Thesing et al., 2021, p. 747). The work is usually divided into two- or four-week sprints to continuously evaluate results and suggest new goals and possible improvements based on the analysis.
Roles and Responsibilities
Scrum demands a clear division of roles and responsibilities, with each team member accountable for their part of the project. Goal setting starts with a business representative or the Product Owner defining the features of a future project. The Scrum Master, in the leading role in a team, is responsible for creating timeframes, mentoring, dividing tasks, and controlling outcomes during daily meetings (Blair, 2020).
The team members are expected to actively collaborate and communicate with each other to know exactly where everyone is at any given moment. Therefore, at the end of the day, team members usually gather to report on their work, discuss any obstacles they encountered and how they managed to overcome them, and share plans for the next day (Fang, 2021). According to the Scrum model, maintaining a constant track of progress to make timely corrections is a key objective for the team.
Scrum and Waterfall Differences
A typical application of the Scrum framework differs from the Waterfall in significant aspects related to goal setting, planning, execution, and collaboration. Project management with Scrum is circular because it requires testing, experimentation, and iteration to define a project’s final appearance. New suggestions regarding a product’s vision, functionality, or implementation details are likely to arise when a team is already in the process of project development.
In contrast, the Waterfall method is linear, with all objectives, design, deadlines, and other details set before work begins. The team must be guided by a documented plan with “the focus of implementing the initial plan as precisely as possible (Thesing et al., 2021, p.747). Moreover, the Waterfall does not require active collaboration between team members; they can work on their parts in isolation until the deadline. In general, the Scrum framework is more flexible and calls for fast decision-making from all team members.
Conclusion
To summarize, the Scrum framework is test-driven rather than plan-driven, unlike the Waterfall. A key feature of Scrum is that the work starts before the final vision of a project is defined. Instead, many details about the ultimate goal, implementation process, etc., are revealed during project development. Subsequently, it demands active, close cooperation among all team members to find the most effective, fastest solutions to emerging obstacles.
References
Blair, A. A. (2020). Agile Project delivery: A practical approach for corporate environments beyond software development. Canadian Scholars.
Fang, Y. (2021). The theory and application in Agile Project Management (APM) with Scrum. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research.
Thesing, T., Feldmann, C., & Burchardt, M. (2021). Agile Versus Waterfall Project Management: Decision model for selecting the appropriate approach to a project. Procedia Computer Science, 181, 746–756.