Agile vs Scrum
Agile and Scrum are terms used in project management. The Agile methodology employs incremental and iterative work cadences that are also called sprints. Scrum, on the other hand is the type of agile approach that is used in software development.
Agile
The Agile methodology is used in project management and it helps project makers to build software applications that are unpredictable in nature. Iterative and incremental work cadences called sprints are used in this methodology. It is basically inspired from traditional sequential model or the waterfall model.
The benefit of using the Agile methodology is that the direction of the project can be accessed throughout its development cycle. The development is accessed with the help of iterations or sprints. At the end of each sprint, an increment of work is presented by the team developing the project. The focus is mainly on the repetition of work cycles and the product they yield. This is the reason why the agile methodology is also called as incremental and iterative.
In agile approach, the each step of development such as requirements, analysis, design etc are continually monitored through the lifecycle of the project whereas this not the case with the waterfall model. So by using agile approach, the development teams can steer the project in the right direction.
Scrum
Scrum is a type of agile approach that is used in development of software applications. It is just a framework and not a methodology or a full process. It does not provide detailed instructions to what needs to be done rather most of it is dependent on the team that is developing the software. Because the developing the project knows how the problem can be solved that is why much is left on them.
Cross-functional and self-organizing teams are essential in case of scrum. There is no team leader in this case who will assign tasks to the team members rather the whole team addresses the issues or problems. It is cross-functional in a way that everyone is involved in the project right from the idea to the implementation of the project.
As it is an agile methodology, it also makes use of series of iterations or sprints. Some of the features are developed as a part of the sprint and at the end of each sprint; the features are completed right from coding, testing and their integration into the product. A demonstration of the functionality is provided to the owner at the end of each sprint so that feedback can be taken which can be helpful for the next sprint.
The product is the primary object of a scrum project. At the end of each sprint, the system or product is brought to a shippable state by the team members.
I found it confusing
This describes agile as iterative and incremental. You won’t find those two words anywhere in the Agile Manifesto. Iterative and incremental approaches to software development may be agile but they certainly could be not agile. Agile processes may include iterative and incremental delivery but may also not be iterative or incremental. Is it possible to do agile and deliver in 2 or 4 weeks, all at once? Pretty good article overall but it falls into the common trap of trying to equate Scrum principles with agile principles.