Unified Process and Scrum Models of Software Development: A Comparison - Essay Sample

Introduction

In today's world, the business environment is very dynamic, and software development is always being changed to adjust to the requirements of organizations and new environments. Software customers are also demanding fast software product delivery. Hence, in this aspect, the plan requirements that are driven traditionally fail to meet the needs of customers. The paper focuses on the Unified Process and Scrum Models of software developments through describing, comparing, and differentiating the two models.

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The Unified Process model is an incremental, use-case driven, iterative, and architecture-centric approach to software development. Describing each approach in the model, the first one, which is the use-case driven approach, defines the interaction between entities, and it represents the operations of software as an interaction between the system and the customer in case of business. Every case shows functionality that is considered for an iteration. In the architecture-centric approach, different programming languages, technologies, server capabilities, development environments, and operating systems are taken into account (Sharma & Wadhwa, 2015). Then, the incremental and iterative approach of the model involves treating every iteration as a mini-project; thus, the software is developed several projects that work in cycles. The Unified Process Model follows four phases starting with inception, which involve collecting requirements and analysis of the software development's waterfall model. The second phase is elaboration, where activities of the inception phase are expanded. The third phase is a construction where the actual code is written, and feature implementation for each iteration is done. The last phase is a transition where the next iteration is rolled out to the customer, and the bugs for previous releases are fixed (Fowler & Highsmith, 2001).

Scrum Model is a software development model that organizes software developers as a team to assist them in reaching a common goal in creating a product that is ready for the market. It is involving developers collaborating and putting their heads together to develop software (Fowler & Highsmith, 2001). The model starts with a list of features or product backlog. The Scrum model team meets to brainstorm the backlog, then the task to be completed, and the time it takes to complete. It relies on sprints, which is a software development concept of Agile. The Scrum model is described as an agile process that applies to software development with aggressive deadlines, degree of uniqueness, and with complex requirements. The development process in Scrum moves forward with sprints interaction series. Each spring in the model is two to four weeks. High-quality software is produced at the end of each sprint.

Comparison

Both the Scrum model and the Unified Process model are frameworks of software development. They are utilized for directions in creating a software plan and in monitoring progress. The two frameworks are also used to save time as both offer solutions that are ready-made for most common tasks (Pressman, 2005). In the two models, team collaboration is applied as a means of getting the project requirements and solutions.

Both models utilize the iterative approach of software development, which is splitting the process of development into a distinctive stage. Also, both models emphasize cross-functionality and enhance self-management within the team of the developers. The models also focus on Product-quality.

The two software development models define the list of activities to be undertaken, clearly specifying the order in which the activities are carried out together with inputs and outputs of the activities.

Differences

The Unified Process Model is more applicable for more strong teams who deal with large projects where face to face communication is not always possible. But Scrum model is more suitable and works better on teams that are small in number and deal with small projects.

In terms of documentation, the Unified Process model is more document-heavy compared to the Scrum model. A broader range of documents can be created by the Unified Process model and more review stages. Scrum, on the other hand, relies mainly on direct communication and on for constant validation, it relies on short interaction (Larman & Basili, 2003). The Scrum model gives software developers a cut-down menu of some practices in which they can choose. While Unified Process gives the developers a somehow different fashion of the ingredients used for software development, it gives them the process which is broad than that of the Scrum model.

Even though the Unified Process is iterative, phases of inception, elaboration, construction, and transition in a less or more linear fashion. As the process of development proceeds, the time spend becomes less as requirements and analysis take place. On the part of construction, testing, and transition, more time is spent. While on the Scrum model, its processes devote time to every activity in every transition (Pressman, 2005). In each iteration, which takes two to four weeks, all the steps such as requirements, design, analysis, test, and development are undertaken to have stable software that can be shipped at the end of every iteration. At the beginning of the iterations, the team members meet to identify requirements and priorities, and in the end, the working software is then demonstrated to all the stakeholders.

The model that I would use is the Unified Process model because it defines scope formally, and when a significant project is I being done, specific dates are set for its completion. It divides the project of developing software into four phases for easy development. A formal project plan is initiated in this model with the scope definition occurring ahead of the project and revised all through. The unified process model is recommended for long-term, substantial, and projects with high risks and complexities.

In conclusion, both the Scrum and Unified Process Models try to bring software development back onto the software. Because the two frameworks are software models that can be shipped and the paid, then the resources of a project team should be tailored to address the requirements of customers; this should be the main focus of the software development team. In the development approach, the necessary parts are the documentation, design, and analysis, which should be considered as essential tools required and not considered to end to themselves. Both Scrum and Unified Process Models have close similarities and, at the same time, have varying differences between each other, which software developers have to consider while deciding on the framework to use.

References

Fowler, M., & Highsmith, J. (2001). The agile manifesto. Software Development, 9(8), 28-35. Retrieved from http://users.jyu.fi/~mieijala/kandimateriaali/Agile-Manifesto.pdf

Larman, C. (2002). Agile processes and modeling. In Net. ObjectDays: International Conference on Object-Oriented and Internet-Based Technologies, Concepts, and Applications for a Networked World (pp. 2-2). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

Larman, C., & Basili, V. R. (2003). Iterative and incremental developments. A brief history. Computer, 36(6), 47-56.

Pressman, R. S. (2005). Software engineering: a practitioner's approach. Palgrave Macmillan.

Sharma, N., & Wadhwa, M. (2015). eXSRUP: Hybrid Software Development Model Integrating Extreme Programing, Scrum & Rational Unified Process. Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 16(2), 377-388. https://doi10.11591/ijeecs.v16.i2.pp377-388