Increment refers to the tangible, usable output produced at the end of each iteration, especially in frameworks like Scrum and Agile. It represents the sum of all completed work during a Sprint, ensuring that the product is always potentially shippable and adds measurable value.
In Scrum, the Increment is a core artifact that reflects the work completed in a Sprint. It embodies the principle of delivering working software incrementally, which ensures that value is continuously added to the product. By delivering increments regularly, teams can receive timely feedback, make improvements, and reduce the risks of large-scale releases.
The significance of the Increment lies in its ability to provide transparency. It allows teams and stakeholders to inspect the progress of work, giving clear indicators of what is done and what remains. This transparency fosters collaboration and ensures alignment between stakeholders and the development team.
In Agile environments, the Increment serves as the basis for adaptation. Teams can adjust their approach based on the feedback gathered from the increment, making the development process iterative and responsive to changing needs.
By prioritising the delivery of increments, organisations can streamline workflows, foster continuous improvement, and ensure that products evolve in a way that meets customer needs. The focus on working software allows teams to minimise technical debt, avoid over-engineering, and align more closely with business objectives.
Ultimately, the Increment provides the concrete, inspectable output that drives decision-making and enhances collaboration, making it one of the most crucial artifacts in Agile and Scrum practices.
The strongest work on Increment — ranked by substance, not recency. How this is ranked
The Definition of Done is a Commitment to Quality
Defines the Definition of Done in Scrum as a clear, shared standard for quality, ensuring increments are releasable, transparent, and …
Why “Done” Only Counts When It’s Live: Moving Beyond Fake Finishes to Real Value in Software Delivery
Discover why “done” means live in production, not just code complete. Learn to deliver real value, close feedback loops, and drive outcomes …
Release planning and predictable delivery
Explores how agile teams can achieve predictable software delivery through quality focus, effective release planning, and continuous …
Stop Paying the Hidden Costs of Weak Delivery: Why a Strong Definition of Done Transforms Your Team’s Results
Stop paying the hidden costs of weak delivery. Discover how a strong, shared definition of done builds trust, quality, and real agility in …
Why Your Definition of “Done” Is Holding Back Quality, Agility, and Trust, And How to Raise the Bar
Is your team’s “done” really done? Discover how a clear, objective definition of done boosts quality, agility, and trust in product …
A better way than staggered iterations for delivery
Explains why staggered iterations harm software delivery, increasing technical debt, and recommends cross-functional teams, test-first, and …
Without Delivery, There Is No Value
Value in software is only realised through delivery. Frequent releases validate assumptions, reduce risk, and enable rapid feedback, …
Professional Scrum teams build software that works
Professional Scrum Teams prioritise software quality, accountability, and continuous improvement, ensuring each release is reliable, …
The Scrum Master is accountable for Delivery
Explains how the Scrum Master is accountable for enabling effective product delivery, fostering team success, and ensuring each sprint …
The Definition of Done is a Commitment to Quality
Defines the Definition of Done in Scrum as a clear, shared standard for quality, ensuring increments are releasable, transparent, and …
Release planning and predictable delivery
Explores how agile teams can achieve predictable software delivery through quality focus, effective release planning, and continuous …
A better way than staggered iterations for delivery
Explains why staggered iterations harm software delivery, increasing technical debt, and recommends cross-functional teams, test-first, and …
Without Delivery, There Is No Value
Value in software is only realised through delivery. Frequent releases validate assumptions, reduce risk, and enable rapid feedback, …
The Scrum Master is accountable for Delivery
Explains how the Scrum Master is accountable for enabling effective product delivery, fostering team success, and ensuring each sprint …
Storms of Neglect The Perils of Not Delivering Usable Products in Agile Iterations
Failing to deliver a usable product each agile iteration leads to lost trust, technical debt, poor adaptability, misaligned expectations, …
How Usable Working Products Are Your Ultimate Weapon Against Risks
Delivering usable, working products frequently is key to reducing risk in Agile. Focus on feedback, automation, and lean practices over …
Getting started with a Definition of Done (DoD)
Explains how to create, apply, and improve a Definition of Done (DoD) in Scrum to ensure software quality, transparency, and consistent …
Professional Scrum teams build software that works
Professional Scrum Teams prioritise software quality, accountability, and continuous improvement, ensuring each release is reliable, …
Why “Done” Only Counts When It’s Live: Moving Beyond Fake Finishes to Real Value in Software Delivery
Discover why “done” means live in production, not just code complete. Learn to deliver real value, close feedback loops, and drive outcomes …
Stop Paying the Hidden Costs of Weak Delivery: Why a Strong Definition of Done Transforms Your Team’s Results
Stop paying the hidden costs of weak delivery. Discover how a strong, shared definition of done builds trust, quality, and real agility in …
Why Your Definition of “Done” Is Holding Back Quality, Agility, and Trust, And How to Raise the Bar
Is your team’s “done” really done? Discover how a clear, objective definition of done boosts quality, agility, and trust in product …
The Importance of Delivering Working Software Every Iteration
Explains why delivering working software to users every iteration is vital in Agile, highlighting feedback, value, and practical steps for …
Ditching the Myth of Special Sprints: Embrace True Agile Practices for Usable Products
Explains why relying on special Sprints undermines Agile, and advocates for continuous improvement, accountability, and delivering usable …
Special Sprints: Agile Banditry or Risk Management?
Explores why special sprints like Sprint Zero or hardening sprints undermine Agile by delaying work, increasing risk, and reducing …
Navigating Complexity: Why Agile Practices Are Essential for Modern Product Development
Explains how agile practices help teams manage complexity, adapt to change, and deliver value faster in modern product development, compared …
The Scrum Guide (February 2010)
29 resources, newest first
The Definition of Done is a Commitment to Quality
Defines the Definition of Done in Scrum as a clear, shared standard for quality, ensuring increments are releasable, transparent, and …
Why Your Definition of “Done” Is Holding Back Quality, Agility, and Trust, And How to Raise the Bar
Is your team’s “done” really done? Discover how a clear, objective definition of done boosts quality, agility, and trust in product …
Scrum Myth Debunked: Unfinished Work is Allowed in Scrum
Clarifies Scrum guidelines on unfinished work, explaining that items can span multiple Sprints if the Sprint Goal and Done Increment remain …
Stop Paying the Hidden Costs of Weak Delivery: Why a Strong Definition of Done Transforms Your Team’s Results
Stop paying the hidden costs of weak delivery. Discover how a strong, shared definition of done builds trust, quality, and real agility in …
Why “Done” Only Counts When It’s Live: Moving Beyond Fake Finishes to Real Value in Software Delivery
Discover why “done” means live in production, not just code complete. Learn to deliver real value, close feedback loops, and drive outcomes …
Agile without a usable working product is just expensive theatre
Highlights the importance of delivering a usable product each sprint in Agile, warning against focusing on process over outcomes and …
If every release feels high-risk, you lack a true Definition of Done
Releases feel risky when teams lack a clear Definition of Done. Learn how a strong DoD ensures stress-free, reliable software delivery with …
Executives want predictability
Lack of a clear, enforced Definition of Done leads to hidden risks, unreliable forecasts, and eroded trust in delivery, undermining …
let-us be blunt, if a Scrum Team isn’t delivering, is it effective
Explores Scrum Team effectiveness, emphasising that consistent delivery is essential and highlighting the Scrum Master's accountability for …
Scrum is built on empiricism, transparency, inspection, and adaptation
Explains why consistent delivery of usable increments is essential in Scrum, highlighting the Scrum Master's accountability for ensuring …
Without Delivery, There Is No Value
Value in software is only realised through delivery. Frequent releases validate assumptions, reduce risk, and enable rapid feedback, …
The Scrum Master is accountable for Delivery
Explains how the Scrum Master is accountable for enabling effective product delivery, fostering team success, and ensuring each sprint …
The Importance of Delivering Working Software Every Iteration
Explains why delivering working software to users every iteration is vital in Agile, highlighting feedback, value, and practical steps for …
Ditching the Myth of Special Sprints: Embrace True Agile Practices for Usable Products
Explains why relying on special Sprints undermines Agile, and advocates for continuous improvement, accountability, and delivering usable …
Special Sprints: Agile Banditry or Risk Management?
Explores why special sprints like Sprint Zero or hardening sprints undermine Agile by delaying work, increasing risk, and reducing …
Storms of Neglect The Perils of Not Delivering Usable Products in Agile Iterations
Failing to deliver a usable product each agile iteration leads to lost trust, technical debt, poor adaptability, misaligned expectations, …
How Usable Working Products Are Your Ultimate Weapon Against Risks
Delivering usable, working products frequently is key to reducing risk in Agile. Focus on feedback, automation, and lean practices over …
Navigating Complexity: Why Agile Practices Are Essential for Modern Product Development
Explains how agile practices help teams manage complexity, adapt to change, and deliver value faster in modern product development, compared …
Getting started with a Definition of Done (DoD)
Explains how to create, apply, and improve a Definition of Done (DoD) in Scrum to ensure software quality, transparency, and consistent …
A better way than staggered iterations for delivery
Explains why staggered iterations harm software delivery, increasing technical debt, and recommends cross-functional teams, test-first, and …
Professional Scrum teams build software that works
Professional Scrum Teams prioritise software quality, accountability, and continuous improvement, ensuring each release is reliable, …
Release planning and predictable delivery
Explores how agile teams can achieve predictable software delivery through quality focus, effective release planning, and continuous …
Update to the Scrum Guide on the 25th Anniversary of the Scrum Framework
Summarises key changes in the 2020 Scrum Guide, including simplified language, self-managing teams, and new commitments for goals, backlog, …
I do continuous deliver, why should I Sprint?
Explains why Sprints are valuable even with continuous delivery, highlighting benefits for planning, feedback, communication, and …
The fallacy of the rejected backlog item
Explains why rejecting individual backlog items at Sprint Review is a misconception, highlighting Scrum’s focus on learning, collaboration, …
Professional Scrum Developer (.NET) Training in London
Intensive five-day course for software developers covering Scrum, Visual Studio 2010, .NET, and Agile practices through hands-on team …