Iteration
An Iteration is a fixed-length timebox during which an agile team develops and delivers a working increment of the product, with each iteration building on the previous one.
Explanation
Iteration is the generic agile term for a development cycle, with Sprint being the Scrum-specific equivalent. Each iteration typically lasts one to four weeks and includes planning, development, testing, and delivery activities. At the end of each iteration, the team delivers a working increment that can be demonstrated and potentially released.
Iterative development allows teams to get feedback early and often, reducing the risk of building the wrong thing. Each iteration provides a learning opportunity: the team can adjust direction based on stakeholder feedback, changing requirements, or new technical insights. This is fundamentally different from a waterfall approach where feedback comes only at the end.
In frameworks like SAFe, iterations are organized into Program Increments (PIs), which are larger timeboxes that coordinate multiple teams. The iteration remains the basic unit of planning and delivery, even at scale.
Key Points
- •Fixed-length timebox, typically one to four weeks
- •Each iteration produces a working, demonstrable increment
- •Enables early and frequent feedback from stakeholders
- •Sprint is the Scrum-specific name for an iteration
Exam Tip
Iteration is the generic term; Sprint is the Scrum-specific term. They refer to the same concept: a fixed-length development cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
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.
Timeboxing
Timeboxing is the practice of allocating a fixed, maximum amount of time for an activity, after which the activity stops regardless of whether it is complete.
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.
Release Planning
Release Planning is an agile practice where the team and Product Owner determine the scope, timing, and goals for the next product release by mapping backlog items across future iterations based on team velocity.
Most-studied PMP concepts
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Burndown Chart
A Burndown Chart is a graphical representation of work remaining versus time in a Sprint or release, showing whether the team is on track to complete the planned work.
Relative Estimation
Relative Estimation is an agile technique where work items are sized in comparison to each other rather than in absolute units like hours or days, providing faster and more accurate estimates.
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 Backlog
The Sprint Backlog is the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, plus the Sprint Goal and the plan for delivering the Increment.
Timeboxing
Timeboxing is the practice of allocating a fixed, maximum amount of time for an activity, after which the activity stops regardless of whether it is complete.
Resource Leveling
Resource leveling is a resource optimization technique in which adjustments are made to the project schedule to keep resource usage at or below a defined limit, often resulting in a longer project duration.
Risk Register
The risk register is a project document that records the details of individual project risks, including their identification, analysis results, response plans, and current status.
Stakeholder Mapping
Stakeholder mapping is the visual representation of stakeholder relationships, influence, interest, or other attributes using grids, matrices, or diagrams to support analysis and engagement planning.
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
Cost Performance Index (CPI) is an EVM efficiency metric that measures cost performance as the ratio of earned value to actual cost: CPI = EV / AC.
Part of
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