Scrum Artifact: Increment

Q: Can you provide an example of an Increment in Scrum?

An Increment in Scrum refers to a potentially shippable end product that comes out of a Sprint. For example, if a team is developing a website, an Increment might be the 'Registration' feature which includes frontend design, backend integration, and successful testing.

Q: Who is responsible for creating the Increment in Scrum?

The Scrum Team, which includes the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team, works together to create the Increment. Specifically, the Development Team does the work to develop the Increment during each Sprint.

Q: Is it required for the Scrum Team to deliver a 'Done' Increment?

Yes, according to Scrum guidelines, the team should deliver a 'Done' Increment at the end of each Sprint. 'Done' implies that the Increment is potentially releasable and adds value to the product.

Q: How does an Increment in Scrum differ from a User Story?

A User Story is a description of a product feature from the perspective of the end-user, while an Increment is the sum of all product backlog items completed during a Sprint. A User Story can contribute to the Increment, but they are not the same thing.

Q: What is the difference between an Increment and a Release?

An Increment is a potentially releasable functionality of a product built during a Sprint, whereas a Release is the act of delivering the developed increment to the users. Not all Increments may be released immediately and could be scheduled for a future release as per the Product Owner's discretion.

Q: How does an Increment compare to a Sprint?

A Sprint is a time-boxed duration during which specific work is completed and made ready for review. An Increment, on the other hand, is the outcome of the work completed during a Sprint. Thus, a Sprint results in an Increment.

By Abhay Talreja

9/14/2023

Scrum Artifact: Increment

The Increment, a crucial Scrum artifact, underscores the iterative and incremental nature of Scrum.

It is the embodiment of all the completed work items from the product backlog that have been delivered by the Scrum Team during a sprint.

Each Increment is a piece of a larger puzzle, contributing to the overall product goal.

The Increment is not just a theoretical concept; it is a working piece of software that adds value to the product, is potentially shippable, and can be put into use by stakeholders at the end of each sprint. The Increment is the sum of all the completed Product Backlog Items (PBIs) that have been developed during a Sprint, combined with the previous Increments.

This continuous delivery of usable product Increments ensures that value is delivered to stakeholders in a timely manner, reinforcing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Scrum framework.

Table Of Contents-

Purpose of the Increment

The Increment serves as the tangible outcome of the Scrum Team's work during a Sprint, providing several key benefits:

Delivering value: The Increment delivers value to customers and stakeholders by providing new features, enhancements, or fixes that address their needs and requirements.
Measuring progress: The Increment serves as a measure of the Scrum Team's progress, enabling them to assess the effectiveness of their work and make data-driven decisions to improve their processes and outcomes.
Providing feedback: The Increment allows the Scrum Team and stakeholders to gather feedback, validate assumptions, and adjust their plans and priorities based on real-world data and experiences.
Enabling adaptability: The Increment enables the Scrum Team to adapt to changing requirements, market conditions, or customer needs, ensuring that they remain focused on delivering the most valuable outcomes.

Characteristics of the Increment

The Increment should have the following characteristics:

Potentially releasable: The Increment should be in a state where it could be released to customers and stakeholders if deemed appropriate, meeting the Scrum Team's Definition of Done and ensuring quality and compliance.
Integrated: The Increment should integrate all completed PBIs from the current Sprint with the previous Increments, providing a cohesive and consistent product experience.
Valuable: The Increment should deliver value to customers and stakeholders, addressing their needs and requirements, and contributing to the achievement of the product vision and goals.
Transparent: The Increment should provide a transparent view of the current state of the product, enabling the Scrum Team and stakeholders to assess progress, gather feedback, and make informed decisions.

Importance of the Increment

The Increment plays a critical role in the Scrum framework by:

Delivering value to customers and stakeholders, ensuring that the Scrum Team's work contributes to the achievement of the product vision and goals.
Providing a transparent view of the product's current state, enabling the Scrum Team and stakeholders to assess progress, gather feedback, and make data-driven decisions.
Enabling the Scrum Team to adapt to changing requirements, market conditions, or customer needs, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

In conclusion, the Increment is a vital artifact in the Scrum framework, representing the tangible outcome of the Scrum Team's work during a Sprint and serving as a means to deliver value, measure progress, gather feedback, and enable adaptability.

Continue Reading

Product BacklogDiscover the importance of the Product Backlog in the Agile Scrum framework, discussing its components, ownership, and refinement.Product IncrementFind out about the Increment in Scrum and how it can help your team create valuable and high-quality products.Scrum RolesLearn about the Scrum Framework, its roles, and how they contribute to successful project management.Scrum Master vs. Project ManagerDiscover the key differences between Scrum Master and Project Manager roles, their responsibilities, and how they contribute to successful project delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) / People Also Ask (PAA)

Can you provide an example of an Increment in Scrum?

Who is responsible for creating the Increment in Scrum?

Is it required for the Scrum Team to deliver a 'Done' Increment?

How does an Increment in Scrum differ from a User Story?

What is the difference between an Increment and a Release?

How does an Increment compare to a Sprint?

Sprint Backlog Summary