SCRUM vs. PMBOK. Which one is the best? (2024)

FAQs

What is better, Scrum or PMP? ›

Career Goals: If you're aiming for a leadership role in traditional project management domains like construction, IT, or finance, PMP might be more valuable. If you're leaning towards dynamic, fast-paced industries or roles emphasizing agility, the Scrum Master certification would be preferable.

Both PMBOK^® Guide and SCRUM address the product planning and management activities required to organize software development. PMBOK^® Guide identifies the need for a Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) as a good practice way to articulate a project's desired “product”. SCRUM identifies a product Backlog for this purpose.

Is PMBOK 7 enough to pass PMP? PMBOK 7 covers all your definitions, concepts, and “know-how”. However, only studying from the PMBOK 7 is not enough to pass the PMP exam. We recommend reading the entire PMBOK guide twice before taking the test while also referring to a good PMP exam prep book – such as Rita's PMP book.

Is Scrum Master better than PMP? If earning potential is your primary concern, a scrum master may be better than PMP. Scrum masters tend to work in IT and engineering fields and typically earn more than individuals with PMP certification.

If you are working in a traditional, plan-driven environment, PMP may be the better choice. PMI-ACP may be the better choice if you are working in an Agile environment. It's essential to evaluate your current role and the projects you are working on to determine which certification suits your goals.

The Project Manager manages the entire project, including risks and budget. Whereas, a Scrum Master ensures their team follows Scrum principles thoroughly and properly. Both these job profiles have complementary responsibilities. The Scrum Master is a coach-consultant and a leader for the technical Agile team.

You may wonder, Can I do PMP® with the Scrum Master experience? Your current Scrum Master role must involve leading and facilitating a team in value delivery. If you have played a leadership role for three years, you are eligible for PMP Certification.

1. PMI — Project Management Professional (PMP) Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading authority on project management. This institution has established Project Management Professional (PMP) certification to acknowledge the expertise of skilled project managers.

The Scrum framework is commonly adopted in these environments, and a CSM is immediately recognized as someone adept in these practices. If you're looking at a broad range of industries or want a certification that's recognized universally across different project management methodologies, the PMP is the way to go.

PMP has no definite passing score. However, you should aim for more than 70% in your practice exams if you want to pass the exam.

How many people fail PMP on first try? ›

The Project Management Professional (PMP) exam is renowned for its difficulty, testing not just your knowledge but your ability to apply project management principles in real-world scenarios. With a pass rate of around 60% on the first attempt, conquering this exam requires strategic preparation.

As discussed in the previous section, studying the PMBOK Guide is not essential to pass the PMP exam. You read the Guide if you want to. PMI has not made it mandatory for the exam. Having said that, we would highly recommend to read the PMBOK Guide at least once before taking the exam.

The PMP designation is largely based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) methodology, which is often conflated with the Waterfall model. (More on this later.) If you want to work for smaller, more Agile companies like groundbreaking startups, chances are much higher that they're working with Scrum.

It's because Scrum is hard to implement. It's hard to teach and harder to mentor. Therefore, if you have these skill sets, you will be in high demand! Secondly, being a Scrum Master is to facilitate change for the greater good, reducing waste wherever possible and increasing efficiency.

While a Scrum master makes sure their team follows Scrum principles, project managers oversee the entirety of a project, including logistics like budget and risk. Scrum Masters can be project managers, and project managers can be Scrum masters, but they're not the same thing.

Your current Scrum Master role must involve leading and facilitating a team in value delivery. If you have played a leadership role for three years, you are eligible for PMP Certification.

If you aim to pursue a career in traditional project management, PMP is an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you prefer an agile project management approach, CSM® can be the right fit. Ultimately, both certifications offer valuable knowledge and skills that can enhance your project management capabilities.

Kanban helps visualize your work, limit work-in-progress (WIP) and quickly move work from "Doing" to "Done." Kanban is great for teams that have lots of incoming requests that vary in priority and size. Whereas scrum processes require high control over what is in scope, kanban let's you go with the flow.

While their roles differ, both are instrumental in ensuring successful outcomes. Product Managers define vision, strategy, and requirements, whereas Scrum Masters facilitate the Scrum process and boost team productivity. Despite distinctions, both emphasize collaboration, communication, and delivering customer value.