Product Increment

By Miranda Dulin

Published in Glossary

January 10, 2024

2 min read

Definition of Product Increment

A Product Increment is a concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal.

Back of a vocabulary card for the term Product Increment

Example Sentence

The Product Increment reflected the team’s collaborative efforts in the Sprint.

Agile practitioners should be familiar with the term “Product Increment” because it is a fundamental concept in Agile frameworks like Scrum. A Product Increment refers to the sum of all the product work completed during a Sprint, integrated with the work of all previous Sprints. This increment is a step towards the final product and must be in a usable condition, meeting the “Definition of Done” as agreed upon by the team. Understanding and focusing on Product Increments ensure that Agile teams deliver value to the customer frequently and iteratively, which is at the heart of the Agile mindset. It enables practitioners to ensure transparency, inspect the product’s progress towards the desired goal, and adapt the plan based on feedback and changing requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is the Difference Between Product Release and Product Increment?

A Product Release involves launching the final product to users, while a Product Increment is the sum of product work completed during a Sprint, potentially releasable but not necessarily released.

What Are the Benefits of Product Increment?

The benefits of a Product Increment include continuous delivery of value to the customer with each Sprint, enabling regular feedback and iterative improvement. Product Increments allow for early detection of issues, reducing risks and increasing the product’s quality over time. This incremental approach also improves predictability in delivery and helps manage customer and stakeholder expectations effectively.

When Must a Product Increment Be Released?

A Product Increment must be releasable at the end of every Sprint in Scrum, but its actual release is determined by the product’s roadmap, market conditions, and stakeholder decisions. The “must” is about readiness, not the act of release, which is strategic and often influenced by factors outside of the Scrum Team’s control.

Who Releases the Product Increment?

The Product Owner is charged with the decision to release a Product Increment, determining its alignment with business goals and readiness for the market. While the Product Owner gives the green light, it is usually the Development Team that manages the technical execution of the release, handling deployment and operational details.

What Is the Difference Between Sprint and Increment?

The difference between a Sprint and an Increment in Scrum is that a Sprint refers to a time-boxed period during which specific work is completed, while an Increment is the sum of all the product work from the current and previous Sprints that is complete, fully functioning, and meets the Scrum Team’s Definition of Done. Sprints are the framework for creating Increments.