Difference between Agile and Scrum

Why Understanding Agile vs. Scrum Matters

Agile is a methodology that helps teams build products through iterative development, continuous feedback, and adaptability. Scrum is a framework within Agile that provides a structured way to manage work using fixed-length iterations called sprints.

Many teams confuse Agile and Scrum, assuming they are interchangeable. In reality, Agile is a broad concept that includes multiple frameworks like Scrum and Kanban. Understanding the difference helps teams choose the right approach for their projects.

Jira Software is designed to support Agile teams. It provides tools like Scrum boards, Kanban boards, and backlogs to help teams manage their work efficiently. Whether a team follows Scrum, Kanban, or a hybrid model, Jira offers features to track tasks, sprints, and workflows in real time.

This article explains the key differences between Agile and Scrum, how Jira supports both approaches, and how teams can use it to optimize their development process.

Key topics covered:

• What is Agile, and how does it work?
• What is Scrum, and how does it differ from Agile?
• How to use Jira for Agile and Scrum projects.
• Best practices for Agile project management in Jira.

Next, we’ll look at Agile as a methodology and its core principles.

What is Agile?

Agile is a project management methodology that focuses on flexibility, collaboration, and iterative development. It helps teams adapt to changing requirements and deliver value faster. Agile is widely used in software development, but it can also be applied to marketing, HR, and other business functions.

Core Agile Principles

Agile is based on the Agile Manifesto, which prioritizes:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
• Working software over comprehensive documentation.
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
• Responding to change over following a fixed plan.

Unlike traditional project management, Agile teams work in small, iterative cycles. They deliver working features frequently, gather user feedback, and make adjustments as needed.

Key Characteristics of Agile

• Iterative development: Work is delivered in short cycles rather than all at once.
• Customer-focused: Frequent feedback helps teams improve the product.
• Collaborative approach: Teams, stakeholders, and customers work closely.
• Adaptability: Priorities can shift based on changing needs.

Agile is not a single framework, it includes Scrum, Kanban, and other approaches. Each framework follows Agile principles but has different structures and workflows.

What is Scrum?

Scrum is a framework within Agile that organizes work into structured cycles called sprints. It is designed for small, cross-functional teams working on complex projects. Unlike Agile, which is a broad methodology, Scrum provides a specific set of rules, roles, and meetings to help teams manage work effectively.

Key Elements of Scrum

1. Sprints – Fixed-length iterations (1-4 weeks) where teams complete a set of tasks.
2. Scrum Roles:
   • Scrum Master – Facilitates the process and removes blockers.
   • Product Owner – Defines priorities and manages the backlog.
   • Development Team – Builds, tests, and delivers the product.

1. Scrum Events:
   • Sprint Planning – Define goals and backlog items for the sprint.
   • Daily Standups – Short meetings to track progress and address blockers.
   • Sprint Review – Demo completed work to stakeholders and get feedback.
   • Sprint Retrospective – Reflect on what went well and what to improve.

How Scrum Differs from Agile

Scrum follows fixed rules for how work should be planned and executed. Agile is more flexible, allowing teams to choose different workflows, planning styles, and iteration lengths.

Scrum teams work within a defined structure, while Agile teams can mix different frameworks, such as Scrum + Kanban (Scrumban), depending on their needs.

Scrum in Jira

Jira Software supports Scrum with:

• Scrum Boards: Organize tasks into columns such as “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done” to visually track the flow of work.
• Backlog Management: Prioritize, refine, and manage the product backlog, ensuring that the team works on the most valuable items.
• Sprint Planning Tools: Set sprint goals, define the scope, and assign issues to the team for the sprint.
• Burndown Charts: Track the progress of a sprint by visually showing the work remaining over time.

Scrum is ideal for teams that need structured workflows, clear roles, and predictable timelines.

Key Differences Between Agile and Scrum

Agile and Scrum share common principles but operate differently. Agile is a broad methodology, while Scrum is a structured framework with specific processes.

How Jira Supports Agile and Scrum

• Agile teams can use Kanban boards for continuous work without fixed sprints.
• Scrum teams can manage work in Sprints, track progress with Scrum boards and burndown charts.
• Hybrid teams can use a mix of both frameworks, depending on project needs.

Jira Software is built for Agile project management, providing tools for Scrum, Kanban, and custom workflows. Teams can track sprints, backlogs, user stories, and workflows in real time.

Key Features of Jira for Agile Teams

• Agile Boards: Supports Scrum boards for sprint-based work and Kanban boards for continuous workflows.
• Sprint Planning Tools: Helps teams create, manage, and track sprints with detailed backlog management.
• Burndown Charts & Reports: Provides real-time tracking of sprint progress and issue completion.
• Backlog Management: Teams can prioritize user stories, epics, and sub-tasks to plan upcoming work.
• Automation: Streamlines repetitive tasks, reducing manual work in Agile workflows.
• Roadmaps: Helps align team members and stakeholders by mapping out project goals.

Jira for Scrum Teams

Scrum teams can use Jira to:

• Plan sprints by selecting issues from the backlog.
• Use Scrum boards to track work from to do ? in progress ? done.
• Monitor sprint progress with burndown charts and sprint reports.

Jira for Kanban Teams

Kanban teams benefit from:

• Continuous workflows without fixed sprints.
• Custom columns & work-in-progress (WIP) limits to optimize flow.
• Kanban boards to visualize tasks and track movement through stages.

Jira adapts to different Agile frameworks, making it a versatile project management tool for teams of any size. 

Jira Workflow Setup for Agile and Scrum Projects

A well-structured workflow helps Agile teams track progress and manage work efficiently in Jira Software. Teams can customize issue statuses, transitions, and automation to match their development process.

How to Set Up an Agile Workflow in Jira

1. Configure Jira Workflows
   • Go to Jira Project Settings > Workflows.
   • Modify the default workflow or create a new one.
   • Define statuses such as To Do, In Progress, Blocked, Ready for Review, Done.
   • Set transitions between statuses to reflect how work moves forward.

1. Add Custom Statuses
   • Create custom statuses for unique project needs (e.g., Awaiting QA, Needs Approval).
   • Map these statuses to your Scrum board or Kanban board.

1. Automate Issue Transition
   • Use Jira Automation to move issues when conditions are met.
   • Example: Automatically transition issues to “Done” when all sub-tasks are complete.

1. Link Issues for Better Tracking
   • Use dependencies to link related issues (blocks, is blocked by, relates to).
   • Helps teams track work across sprints and identify bottlenecks.

1. Integrate with DevOps Tools
   • Sync Jira with GitHub, Bitbucket, or CI/CD pipelines.
   • Automate status updates when code is merged or deployed.

Jira’s flexible workflows allow teams to adapt processes based on their Agile methodology. 

Smart Tools by TitanApps: Making Agile, Scrum, and Kanban More Efficient

Agile teams rely on structure and repeatable processes to keep work moving efficiently. Scrum and Kanban frameworks help teams prioritize tasks, manage workflows, and deliver work in small, iterative cycles. However, managing these processes manually in Jira can slow teams down.

Smart Templates and Smart Checklist provide automation and structure to Agile workflows, allowing teams to:

• Standardize processes for recurring tasks
• Automate recurring tasks to reduce repetitive setup.
• Adding checklists to tasks without cluttering the backlog and board with subtasks.
• Improve sprint efficiency, ensuring work follows Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD).
• Reduce errors, keeping every team member aligned with the same set of requirements.

With Smart Templates, teams can quickly set up structured Jira issues for repetitive processes without manually creating each component from scratch. Smart Checklist ensures consistency and accountability by adding checklists to an issue and tracking their progress.

How Agile Teams Can Benefit from Smart Tools

1. Sprint Execution: Breaking Down Work Without Clutter

Scrum teams often struggle with subtask overload in Jira. Instead of creating separate subtasks, teams can use Smart Checklist inside each Jira issue to break down work into clear, actionable steps.

Example: Sprint Execution Checklist for a Development Task

User Story: Add Dark Mode Feature

• Design new UI components.
• Implement theme switcher.
• Write automated tests.
• Test feature across browsers.
• Update documentation.

Why use a checklist instead of subtasks?

• Keeps the issue board clean without excessive subtasks.
• Allows tracking of small, essential steps inside a task.
• Provides a clear view of progress inside Jira issues.

Pro-tip:

Smart Checklist is integrated with Automation for Jira meaning you can automatically apply checklists based on a variety of triggers. For example, you can automatically apply checklists to issues based on issue field value or workflow transition. Last but not least, if you like to stay on top of things, you can also configure a Smart Checklist to show the progress of each item on your Agile Board.

2. Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD): Standardizing Sprint Workflow

To avoid incomplete or unclear user stories entering a sprint, teams use a Definition of Ready (DoR). To mark work as fully completed, a Definition of Done (DoD) ensures that every task meets quality standards.

Example: Definition of Ready (DoR) Checklist
Before a story is included in a sprint, it must:

• Be clearly defined with user story format: As a [user], I want [goal], so that [benefit].
• Include acceptance criteria.
• Have UI/UX designs attached (if applicable).
• Identify dependencies and risks.
• Be estimated and approved for development.

Example: Definition of Done (DoD) Checklist
A Jira issue is only complete when:

• Code is written and reviewed.
• All bugs have been fixed
• Automated and manual tests covered by QA team
• The documentation has been updated
• The build has been pushed to the staging environment
• All tasks with the “To do” status have been finished
• Every Acceptance Criteria checklist in each User Story is done
• Product Owner has approved the release.
• Code is officially done and works

Result: Every sprint item meets consistent quality standards before it starts or ends.

You can add the DoD checklist to both the main issue and the child issues:

• For the main issue, include the broad checklist that ensures the user story meets the overall Definition of Done.
• For child issues, add a specific checklist relevant to each sub-task to ensure all detailed steps are covered.

Here’s an example DoD checklist for the main issue:

And here’s an example DoD checklist for a child issue (e.g., development task):

Pro-tip: Smart Checklist comes with a selection of Demo checklists. This includes a DoD checklist you can use straight away or customize to more closely fit your exact needs. You can also automate DoD with checklist templates.

3. Launching a New Scrum Project: Streamlining the Setup

Starting a new Scrum project requires consistent setup steps across teams. Instead of creating everything manually, a Scrum Project Setup Template can automatically generate the necessary Jira tasks.

Example: Scrum Project Setup Smart Template

Task: Set Up Scrum Board

• Create a Jira project and select the Scrum board.
• Configure backlog, sprint view, and filters.
• Assign team members and permissions.

Task: Schedule Scrum Meetings

• Set up daily standups.
• Schedule sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives.

Task: Define Sprint Workflow

• Add Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD) checklists.
• Create a Jira workflow with custom statuses.
• Automate Jira rules for issue transitions.

Result: Faster project setup with a repeatable, structured template.

4. Standardizing Repetitive Workflows for Business Teams with Kanban

Kanban is a popular choice among business teams—especially in HR, legal, finance, or operations—because of its continuous flow and flexibility. These teams often manage high volumes of repetitive processes that follow the same steps every time: onboarding a new employee, reviewing contracts, processing invoices, or running performance reviews.

With Smart Templates for Jira, teams can standardize these workflows by turning recurring tasks into reusable issue templates. This saves time, improves consistency, and helps ensure nothing important gets missed.

Example Use Case: Employee Onboarding in HR

Instead of creating a new Jira issue from scratch every time a new hire joins, the HR team can use a pre-built Smart Template:

Template: Employee Onboarding Process

• Issue Summary: Onboard New Employee – {{employee_name}}
• Description: Standard checklist for onboarding a new hire in the {{department}} team.
• Smart Checklist:
  • Send welcome email
  • Create Jira and Confluence accounts
  • Order hardware
  • Schedule intro meeting with team
  • Assign onboarding mentor
  • Share internal HR documentation

This template can be scheduled to repeat or triggered automatically using Jira Automation, depending on the team’s internal workflow.

You can find the full article about all the differences between Agile and Scrum on the TitanApps blog.