Scrum and Kanban are two of the most widely used Agile frameworks, but they often serve different types of teams. Scrum thrives in product development and iterative delivery, while Kanban shines in flow-based work like support, operations, or maintenance. But what if you want the best of both worlds? That’s where Scrumban comes in — a hybrid approach that combines the structured cadences of Scrum with the flexibility and flow optimization of Kanban.

This article explores how Scrumban works in practice, when it makes sense to use it, and how teams can set it up to deliver more value with less friction.

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What Is Scrumban?

Scrumban is a hybrid Agile method that integrates elements of Scrum (like sprints, roles, and ceremonies) with Kanban’s visual work management and continuous flow principles. Instead of strictly following one framework, Scrumban allows teams to customize their process to fit their context.

It’s particularly useful for teams that:

• Want to improve their flow and reduce wait times

• Find Scrum’s timeboxes too rigid for certain types of work

• Need flexibility to handle both planned and unplanned work

• Are transitioning from Scrum to Kanban (or vice versa) and want an intermediate step

By blending these approaches, teams can achieve predictability and flow at the same time.

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Core Elements of Scrumban

Let’s break down the key elements that make up a Scrumban system:

Scrum Component	Kanban Component	How It Blends in Scrumban
Sprint Planning	Continuous Pull System	Plan broadly, but pull tasks just-in-time
Scrum Roles (PO, SM)	Service Delivery Focus	Maintain roles but adapt to flow-based needs
Sprint Review/Retro	Continuous Improvement (Kaizen)	Keep retros, focus on evolving policies
Sprint Backlog	Kanban Board	Visualize all work, limit WIP across board
Velocity Tracking	Lead Time, Throughput Metrics	Combine forecasting techniques

Instead of forcing everything into two- or three-week sprints, Scrumban teams can use a pull-based system to manage incoming work while still holding periodic planning and reflection sessions.

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Setting Up a Scrumban Board

To apply Scrumban, start by creating a Kanban board. This board should reflect your key workflow stages — for example:

• To Do

• In Progress

• Code Review

• Testing

• Done

Next, establish Work-In-Progress (WIP) limits for each stage. WIP limits help prevent overloading the team and surface bottlenecks early. For example, you might set:

• In Progress: max 5 tasks

• Code Review: max 3 tasks

• Testing: max 2 tasks

You can continue to hold Scrum events like sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives. But rather than planning a full sprint backlog, focus on maintaining a steady flow of the most important work.

If you’re interested in learning how to design Kanban systems effectively, the Kanban system design certification (also known as KMP I certification) offers practical training on this topic.

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When to Use Scrumban

Scrumban works best for teams in one of the following situations:

• Evolving Scrum teams: Teams that feel constrained by fixed sprints but still value Scrum roles and ceremonies.

• Operational teams: Teams handling both planned and reactive work (such as DevOps or support teams).

• High-priority, fast-changing environments: Contexts where backlog priorities shift frequently, making full sprint commitments impractical.

• Teams experimenting with Lean improvements: Those wanting to apply Kanban certification learnings without fully abandoning Scrum structures.

For example, if you’re running a product team that also supports urgent customer issues, Scrumban lets you maintain Scrum’s iterative planning while leaving space to pull in critical work as it arises.

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Metrics in Scrumban

Unlike Scrum, which often focuses on velocity (story points completed per sprint), Scrumban leans heavily on Kanban-style metrics:

• Lead time: The time it takes from starting a task to completing it

• Cycle time: The time a task spends actively in progress

• Throughput: The number of work items completed in a given period

• Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFDs): Visual charts showing the stability and flow of work across stages

These metrics help teams identify bottlenecks, manage flow, and make data-driven forecasts without relying solely on sprint-based estimates.

For those looking to deepen their expertise in flow-based delivery, a KMP I certification course is a great next step.

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Practical Tips for Running Scrumban

To make Scrumban work in practice, consider the following tips:

✅ Set clear WIP limits: Without them, your board will become a parking lot instead of a flow system.

✅ Adapt your stand-ups: Instead of focusing on “what did you do yesterday,” emphasize where work is stuck and how to unblock it.

✅ Review policies regularly: Make your team’s process explicit and revisit it often (this aligns with Kanban’s principles of evolutionary change).

✅ Forecast with lead time and throughput: Move away from point-based velocity and use real data on delivery times to inform planning.

✅ Balance planning and flow: Use planning meetings to align on goals but rely on pull systems to select the most valuable work just-in-time.

You can learn more about these practices through recognized Kanban certification programs, which provide frameworks and tools for combining agility with lean flow.

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Common Scrumban Challenges

While Scrumban offers flexibility, it’s not a silver bullet. Common pitfalls include:

• Losing discipline: Without careful attention, dropping sprint commitments can lead to chaos.

• Poorly defined policies: Without explicit agreements on how work is prioritized, the board may become a free-for-all.

• Neglecting improvement: Scrumban only works if the team actively reflects and improves; skipping retros or ignoring metrics undermines progress.

To avoid these issues, make sure your team understands both Scrum and Kanban fundamentals. One way to build this knowledge is by pursuing a Kanban system design certification, which covers the principles, metrics, and system thinking needed to make Scrumban work.

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External Resources to Deepen Your Knowledge

For teams eager to learn more about hybrid Agile approaches and lean systems, here are some helpful resources:

• Lean Kanban University — Global hub for Kanban training and certification

• Scrum.org’s Scrumban Guide — Overview of when and why to use Scrumban

• Kanban Maturity Model (KMM) — A model for assessing and improving Kanban implementations

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Final Thoughts

Scrumban isn’t just “Scrum with a Kanban board.” It’s a thoughtful blend of structured iteration and continuous flow, offering teams a flexible path to improve their delivery systems. By combining the best parts of both worlds, teams can handle uncertainty, balance planned and unplanned work, and continuously improve.

If you want to strengthen your team’s ability to design and evolve Kanban systems, consider enrolling in the KMP I certification or other Kanban certification programs. These courses offer the practical knowledge and tools to apply Scrumban effectively and help your teams achieve more with less waste.

 

Also read - Kanban Cadences: How to Run Effective Replenishment and Delivery Meetings

Also see - Dependency Management in Large-Scale Kanban Systems