Hello everyone,

Agility in IT – sounds familiar, right?
Agile approaches have become firmly established in recent years, especially in project management. But with all the buzzwords like Scrum, Kanban, and hybrid models, one key question often arises: Which method is right for which project? Don’t worry — today, we’ll take you on a short journey through the world of agile project management and share some practical tips on how to choose the right method for your specific needs.

What does “agile” actually mean?

Before diving into specific methods, let’s clarify the basics: Agile project management doesn’t just mean being “flexible” or “dynamic.” It’s about moving projects forward in small, manageable steps, gathering regular feedback, and making adjustments when necessary. Rather than relying on detailed, long-term planning, the focus is on fast, iterative development — which is especially important in IT, where requirements often shift and new technologies emerge quickly.

The Three Major Agile Methods: Scrum, Kanban, and Hybrid Approaches

Scrum – The All-Rounder for Complex Projects

Scrum is probably the most well-known agile method. It’s particularly suitable for complex projects where requirements evolve over time. Scrum is built around defined roles (like Scrum Master and Product Owner), sprints, and regular meetings (such as daily stand-ups and sprint reviews).

When is Scrum a good choice?

  • For projects with high uncertainty and frequent changes

  • When close collaboration with the client and regular feedback are essential

  • For teams that need to iterate quickly and respond flexibly to new developments

Pro Tip:
Scrum thrives on regular sprints. If your project can be broken down into clearly defined sub-goals (such as in software development), Scrum is ideal. A well-structured sprint plan helps the team stay focused and concentrate on specific tasks.

Kanban – The Method for Continuous Flow

Originally developed for manufacturing, Kanban is now widely used in IT as well. The main idea is to make workflows visible and continuously improve them. Unlike Scrum, Kanban doesn’t use sprints. Instead, tasks are handled continuously and visualized using a board (e.g., Trello or Jira).

When is Kanban a good choice?

  • For projects that don’t require strict timelines or sprints

  • When the goal is to visualize work and quickly identify bottlenecks

  • When there’s little need for regular meetings or fixed iterations

Pro Tip:
Kanban works great when your project can be divided into small, continuously manageable tasks. The team works at a steady pace without being tied to sprint cycles. It’s especially useful for maintenance projects or ongoing enhancements to existing systems.

Hybrid Approaches – The Best of Both Worlds

As the name suggests, hybrid approaches combine elements from different agile methods based on the needs of the project. For example, Scrum might be used during core development phases, while Kanban manages support or maintenance work.

When is a hybrid approach a good choice?

  • For projects with varying needs for structure and flexibility

  • When certain phases benefit from Scrum’s rigor and others from Kanban’s fluidity

  • In larger organizations applying agile methods across multiple teams

Pro Tip:
Hybrid approaches require experience and flexibility within the team — but that’s also their strength. You can adapt the methods to what the project really needs. A common example is a software development project that uses Scrum for main development and Kanban for background maintenance and bug fixing.

How to Successfully Implement Agile Methods

So, how do you get started with agile in your team? Here are a few tips to help you take the first steps:

  • Start small: Don’t try to make the entire organization agile all at once. Begin with a single team or a smaller project and gather initial experience.

  • Invest in training: It’s essential that everyone involved understands the principles and methods. Provide proper training and ensure a shared understanding of what agile work means.

  • Stay flexible: Agility also means continuous evolution. If you find that a method isn’t the right fit, don’t hesitate to change course and try something else.

  • Seek feedback: Agile doesn’t mean ignoring planning — it’s about incorporating regular feedback, both from the team and from clients, and using it to make improvements.

Conclusion: The Right Method for the Right Project

Choosing the right agile method always depends on the project.
Scrum is great for complex, fast-changing requirements.
Kanban helps streamline continuous workflows.
And hybrid models let you tailor your approach to different phases and needs.

What matters most is taking the time to choose the right method for your project and introducing it step by step. Agility not only brings flexibility but also fosters better team collaboration and leads to higher-quality outcomes.

Have questions or want to discuss which method suits your project best?
Get in touch — we’re here to support you with expert advice and hands-on experience.

See you soon and good luck with your projects!

Your amotIQ solutions team