Increment
An Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal, where each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and must meet the Definition of Done to be considered complete.
Explanation
An Increment is the sum of all Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint, plus the value of all previous Increments. The Increment must be usable and meet the Definition of Done. If a Product Backlog item does not meet the Definition of Done, it cannot be released or presented at the Sprint Review.
Multiple Increments may be created within a Sprint. The sum of the Increments is presented at the Sprint Review. However, an Increment may be delivered to stakeholders prior to the end of the Sprint. The Sprint Review should never be considered a gate to releasing value.
The Increment is the tangible output that demonstrates progress. In Scrum, delivering a usable Increment at the end of every Sprint is non-negotiable, as it provides the transparency needed for meaningful inspection and adaptation.
Key Points
- •Each Increment is additive to all prior Increments
- •Must meet the Definition of Done to be considered complete
- •Multiple Increments can be created within a single Sprint
- •The Increment can be released at any point, not just at the Sprint Review
Exam Tip
An Increment must be usable and meet the Definition of Done. If a question asks about incomplete work, it is NOT part of the Increment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Definition of Done
The Definition of Done (DoD) is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product, providing a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete.
Sprint Review
The Sprint Review is a Scrum event held at the end of the Sprint where the Scrum Team presents the Increment to stakeholders, gathers feedback, and collaborates on what to do next.
Sprint
A Sprint is a fixed-length timebox of one month or less in Scrum during which the team creates a usable, potentially releasable product Increment.
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