Differences Between Scrum Vs XP

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by QCity Editorial Stuff

Scrum and XP are two different types of agile software development methods. Scrum is a well-defined framework for managing work in highly dynamic environments, but may not be the best choice if you’re just starting with an agile project. XP has less structure than Scrum, which gives it more flexibility to adapt to your needs as they arise. The post will compare and contrast these two approaches and help you decide which one might be right for your team based on what you know about them so far.

The Scrum methodology is designed to help teams deliver products more efficiently. It focuses on the team members’ roles, responsibilities, and interactions with one another. This blog post will examine how Scrum compares to XP for developers who are looking for ways to work better together. 

Scrum and XP both have their merits, but they are different processes with different goals. Scrum is a framework for managing the process from start to finish, whereas XP is a collection of practices that can be used to improve software development. In this article, we will discuss some of the key differences between these two approaches so you can decide which one might work best for your project.

Comparison between Scrum and XP

Parameters of ComparisonScrumXP
SystemScrum is a project management frameworkXP is a software development methodology that emphasizes the rapid and flexible response to change
TeamIn Scrum, the team consists of cross-functional members with expertise in different areas such as DevelopmentXP there are no specific roles assigned to team members
DeadlinesIn Scrum, you have “sprints” which are short periods during which all work must be completedScrum utilizes story points while XP relies on relative sizing (ease vs difficulty)
Timebox methodologyScrum is a time-boxed methodologyXP is not
RoleScrum has three roles – the Product Owner, the Team Member, and the Scrum MasterScrum is a time-boxed methodology, while XP is not

What is Scrum?

Scrum is a framework for managing and completing projects, product development, and other work. It was developed as an agile alternative to the more traditional waterfall approach to project management. In Scrum, team members divide tasks among themselves in three-week cycles called sprints. The goal of each sprint is to complete the task at hand by developing a working model or prototype. Before starting a new cycle, team members collaborate with stakeholders on what needs to be done during that next cycle before they start their current one. This helps maintain visibility into how much work remains until completion so everyone can see progress being made along the way.

Scrum is a powerful, yet simple framework for managing projects of all sizes. It helps teams deliver products in short cycles of work by breaking down complex tasks into manageable chunks that can be completed within one sprint. Scrum also emphasizes teamwork and accountability among team members, allowing them to share knowledge and support each other through the process.  Scrum teams are self-organizing and cross-functional, which means they’re made up of people with different skillsets who collaborate throughout the project lifecycle to produce measurable results on time. This ensures that everyone has ownership over every step in the process—from idea conception to production deployment. What’s more, because Scrum relies on constant feedback loops between customers and development team members, it ensures that the final product meets customer needs and requirements.

Differences Between Scrum Vs XP

What is XP?

XP agile software development methods are a project management approach that is used to create customer-centric, high-quality products. Some of the key concepts behind XP are “individuals and interactions over processes and tools”, “working software over comprehensive documentation” and “responding to change over following a plan.

XP agile software development methods are a set of practices to help teams produce high-quality software. These methods are well known for their efficiency, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness. The goal is to provide the customer with the highest quality product promptly. 

XP agile software development methods are a set of practices that focus on producing high-quality products which can be produced quickly and efficiently while also meeting customer needs. These practices have been successful because they work within many different environments and allow for a quick change when needed.

Differences Between Scrum Vs XP

10 Differences Between Scrum and XP

1. Scrum is a project management framework that uses a time-boxed approach to manage projects. 

2. XP is a software development methodology that emphasizes the rapid and flexible response to change, often through incremental or iterative design and testing of a result.

3. In Scrum, the team consists of cross-functional members with expertise in different areas such as Development, QA Testing, Product Management, etc., whereas in XP there are no specific roles assigned to team members.

4. In Scrum you have “sprints” which are short periods during which all work must be completed; sprints can last from one day up to four weeks depending on the needs of the project at hand.

5 while in XP you do not have any set deadlines or milestones for completion.

6. The two methods also differ when it comes to how they estimate their tasks – Scrum utilizes story points while XP relies on relative sizing (ease vs difficulty). 

7. In both cases estimates are always given as ranges rather than exact figures so it’s easier for teams to adjust them based on new information discovered throughout execution 8. Scum has extensive documentation requirements where each task within it should be.

8. Scrum is a time-boxed methodology, while XP is not.

9. Scrum has three roles – the Product Owner, the Team Member, and the Scrum Master.

10. XP does not have a defined role for a product owner.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of  Scrum

1. Scrum was created by Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber.

2. The word “scrum” is taken from rugby, which means a formation of players that are in the process of scrummaging (a close-knit group).

3. Scrums were introduced to software development as an analogy for how people work together on projects.

4. A scrum team usually consists of 8-12 members.

5. In a typical agile project, about 50% of the time is spent designing and prototyping new features.

6. Agile developers focus on quality over quantity.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of XP

1. XP teams are self-organizing and cross-functional.

2. A team’s velocity is the number of story points completed per iteration.

3. The term “XP” was coined by Kent Beck as an abbreviation for eXtreme Programming.

4. Agile software development methods include Scrum, Kanban, Lean Software Development, Crystal Clear, Adaptive Software Development.

5. XP emphasizes working software over comprehensive documentation.

6. Pair programming is a common practice in XP where two programmers work together at one computer to develop code collaboratively.

Conclusion

Scrum is a management framework that focuses on the completion of work. XP, or Extreme Programming, has five guiding principles for development and emphasizes collaboration among developers to create high-quality code with minimal bugs. Both frameworks focus heavily on software development but take different approaches in how they structure teams and manage projects. If you’re considering using one of these as your primary methodology for organizing your team, it would be beneficial to learn about their core values so you can see which approach best aligns with what you want from your project’s outcomes.

References:

Resource 01: https://www.scrum.org/
Resource 02: https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/xp/#q

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