Agile teams often come across different myths that create confusion about what practices belong where. One common belief is that limiting Work in Progress (WIP) is something that only Kanban teams do. This idea is misleading because Scrum Teams, too, can benefit greatly from limiting WIP. Here you will explore why this myth exists, what the truth is, and how Scrum Teams can use WIP limits to improve focus, flow, and value delivery.
Understanding the Myth
The myth goes like this , limiting Work in Progress is a practice only used by Kanban teams. At first glance, this assumption seems reasonable. After all, Kanban boards are well-known for using WIP limits as a central practice. But in reality, Scrum is a very flexible framework that allows teams to adopt complementary practices whenever they are helpful. And one of the most useful complementary practices for Scrum Teams is limiting WIP.
Truth Behind the Myth
The Scrum Guide doesn’t explicitly mention limiting WIP, but it clearly encourages teams to find practices that improve effectiveness. That means Scrum Teams are free to use Kanban practices if they improve outcomes. Limiting Work in Progress is not about sticking to one framework. It’s about delivering value faster and improving quality. When Scrum Teams apply WIP limits, they strengthen focus, reduce multitasking, and increase the chances of finishing work instead of leaving tasks half-done.
What Does Work in Progress Mean?
Work in Progress (WIP) refers to the number of items, stories, or tasks that are currently being worked on at the same time in any stage of the workflow. For example, if developers are working on 6 features at once, all 6 are considered WIP. If testers have 10 partially tested items, those 10 are WIP.
The problem with too much WIP is that it slows down delivery, creates bottlenecks, and increases context-switching. Instead of finishing and delivering value, the team gets stuck juggling too many things at once.
Why Limiting WIP Helps Scrum Teams?
Even though WIP limits are more popular in Kanban, they can make a big difference in Scrum too. Here’s why:
Improved Focus
By setting a limit on how many items can be in Development or Testing at a time, the team is forced to focus on finishing tasks before starting new ones.
Higher Quality
When developers work on fewer items, they can pay closer attention to detail. This reduces defects and improves overall quality.
Faster Delivery
Limiting WIP speeds up the flow of work. Instead of 10 items being half-done, 3 or 4 items can be completed and delivered sooner.
Better Collaboration
WIP limits encourage teamwork. If developers can’t pick up a new item because the WIP limit is reached, they may help testers or designers clear the bottleneck.
Less Stress and Context Switching
Focusing on fewer items reduces the stress of juggling too many tasks and cuts down wasted time from switching back and forth.
What This Myth Reveals?
The myth that WIP limits are only for Kanban shows a bigger misunderstanding: that Scrum and Kanban are mutually exclusive. In reality, Scrum is flexible. It’s not a set of strict rules, it’s a framework that encourages experimentation. Complementary practices like WIP limits allow Scrum Teams to adapt, improve processes, and maximize value delivery.
Do This Instead, if you’re a Scrum Team struggling with too many unfinished items at the end of each Sprint, try adding WIP limits. Start small:
- Place a WIP limit on Development or Testing.
- Experiment with different numbers to see what works.
- Review the impact during Retrospectives and adjust.
- Remember that the goal is to finish more, not start more.
Limiting Work in Progress is not just for Kanban. It’s a powerful practice that Scrum Teams can use to improve flow, deliver value sooner, and enhance overall quality. Scrum is flexible enough to welcome such practices as long as they support the team’s Sprint Goal.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Work in Progress (WIP) mean?
Work in Progress refers to all tasks or stories that are being worked on but not yet completed. Too much WIP can cause bottlenecks and delay value delivery.
Can Scrum Teams use Kanban practices?
Yes. Scrum is flexible. Teams can adopt any complementary practice—like WIP limits—that improves their ability to deliver valuable increments.
Why is limiting WIP useful in Scrum?
It improves focus, reduces multitasking, enhances quality, and helps teams deliver finished work faster.
How do you set a WIP limit in Scrum?
Start by defining a limit for a workflow stage (e.g., no more than 3 items in Development). Experiment and adjust based on team capacity and outcomes.
Does limiting WIP slow down work?
No. It may feel slower at first because fewer items are being worked on, but it actually speeds up delivery because tasks are finished sooner.
Where can I learn advanced Scrum practices like WIP limits?
Institutes like HelloSM, Best Scrum Training Institute in Hyderabad provide in-depth Scrum training to help professionals understand and apply practices like WIP limits effectively.
