DevOps vs Scrum

DevOps and Scrum are methodologies used in software development. They are both used by agile teams but have distinct focuses and purposes.

a year ago   •   3 min read

By Dan King
Photo by Quino Al / Unsplash

DevOps and Scrum are methodologies used in software development.  They have distinct focuses and purposes. Here are some key differences between DevOps and Scrum:

Scrum

Scrum is an agile project management framework that helps teams manage their work. It is primarily focused on delivering software in iterative cycles. It emphasizes collaboration, self-organization, and delivering value to stakeholders through incremental development. Scrum is mainly concerned with managing the software development process.

DevOps

DevOps is a set of practices, tools and philosophies that aim to improve collaboration and communication between development teams and operations teams. It began around 2007 and emphasizes automation, continuous integration and delivery, and the seamless deployment of software. DevOps is focused on achieving faster and more reliable software delivery and operations.

Let's explore some differences between DevOps and Scrum:

Team Structure

Team sitting at conference table
Photo by Dylan Gillis / Unsplash

Scrum

Scrum defines specific roles, including the product owner, Scrum Master, and development team. The product owner is responsible for prioritizing and managing the product backlog, while the Scrum Master facilitates the Scrum process. The development team consists of individuals who actually develop the software.

DevOps

DevOps promotes a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility between development and operations teams. It encourages breaking down silos and having cross-functional teams that can handle both development and operational tasks.


Timeframes and Iterations

Scrum

Scrum uses time boxed iterations called sprints, typically ranging from one to four weeks. The team plans and delivers potentially shippable increments of the product at the end of each sprint.

DevOps

DevOps focuses on continuous integration, delivery, and deployment, enabling software changes to be released frequently and reliably. There is no specific time-boxing or fixed iteration structure like in Scrum.


Scope

Scrum

Scrum primarily focuses on the development process and managing the project. It provides a framework for organizing and executing the work, defining roles and responsibilities, and ensuring the team delivers value incrementally.

DevOps

DevOps focuses on the entire software delivery lifecycle, including development, testing, deployment, and operations. It emphasizes automation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across these stages.


Tools and Practices

Scrum

Scrum does not prescribe specific tools or practices. It is a framework that allows teams to adapt and choose the tools and practices that work best for them. Common Scrum practices include daily stand-up meetings, sprint planning, backlog grooming, and retrospectives.

Wrenches on a black background
Photo by Matt Artz / Unsplash

DevOps

DevOps promotes the use of various tools and practices to automate processes, enable continuous integration and delivery, and facilitate monitoring and feedback loops. Examples of DevOps practices include infrastructure as code, version control, automated testing, and deployment automation.


Conclusion

While DevOps and Scrum have different focuses, they are not mutually exclusive. In fact, many organizations combine elements of both methodologies to create an integrated approach that promotes collaboration, agility, and efficient software delivery.

What Is A Scrum Master?
A Scrum Master is a role within the Scrum framework. The primary goal of a Scrum Master is to facilitate and enable the Scrum team to work efficiently and deliver high-quality results.

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