A Hybrid Software Development Method for Large-scale Projects: Rational Unified Process with Scrum

Conventional software development methods have gradually been replaced by lightweight agile software development methods since the mid-1990s. This phenomenon is mainly due to the conventional methods’ shortcomings, including a slow adaptation to rapidly changing business requirements, and a tendency to be over budget and behind schedule. This paper analyzes characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of both conventional and agile methods. This paper also explains the four major phases and nine disciplines of the Unified Process, and the common elements of the Scrum process. Finally, this paper suggests a new hybrid software development method that combines the Rational Unified Process with the Scrum process to accommodate the strengths of both methods while suppressing their weaknesses. The hybrid method can be utilized in the software industry, particularly, in the business sectors that deal with large-scale projects.