Concepts
This principle is drawn from the Agile Manifesto, which emphasizes customer collaboration, responsiveness to changes, and emphasis on working software over exhaustive documentation.
I. UNDERSTANDING INCREMENTAL DELIVERY AND FREQUENT DEMONSTRATIONS
Incremental delivery in Agile refers to a process where the product or the value is defined, divided into smaller functional pieces (increments), and delivered to the clients sequentially. Each increment is essentially a usable piece of the product delivered to the customer or stakeholder, providing tangible value and satisfying a portion of their needs.
On the other hand, frequent demonstrations (or reviews) in Agile refer to the practice where teams regularly provide their stakeholders with a functioning version of the product. The aim of these demonstrations is to foster collaboration between the development team and the stakeholders, enabling feedback and steering the future course of the product development.
II. THE VALUE OF SEEKING FEEDBACK ON THE PRODUCT
A fundamental benefit of adhering to this principle is creating products that are better aligned with the customer’s needs and expectations. By delivering product incrementally and demonstrating frequently, valuable client feedback is obtained earlier, and on a continuous basis. The feedback obtained at each stage is then used to refine and improve the product, creating higher value for the clients.
III. THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THIS PRINCIPLE
For example, if you are developing a mobile banking application, you might develop its login functionality as the first increment. Once this increment is delivered, demonstrations will be held for the stakeholders to test this functionality. Based on their feedback, the team might have to make some alterations, such as simplifying the login process or enhancing its security features. These changes will improve the product’s value and meet the end users’ needs more effectively.
IV. COMPARISON OF AGILE WITH TRADITIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT
| Agile | Traditional Project Management |
|---|---|
| Emphasizes incremental delivery and frequent demonstrations | Emphasizes delivery of a complete product at the end |
| Stakeholder feedback is continually obtained | Stakeholder feedback obtained towards the end |
| Changes can be incorporated at each stage | Changes require a formal change process, which might not be feasible towards the end of the project |
| High customer satisfaction due to a product that is in-line with their needs | Lower customer satisfaction due to potential deviation from customer needs |
V. FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS
While implementing this principle, two key aspects should be kept in mind: transparency and responsiveness. Transparency in sharing the product increments with the stakeholders, and responsiveness in adapting to their feedback are critical to the Agile approach. A PMI-ACP should guide their team towards maintaining this balance to enhance the product’s value and the stakeholder’s satisfaction.
To sum up, the Agile principle of seeking feedback through incremental delivery and frequent demonstrations is one of the core tenets that enable teams to provide maximum value possible. Embracing this principle helps in creating products that are better aligned with the clients’ needs, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and successful product outcomes.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True or False: Incremental delivery and frequent demonstrations are important for seeking feedback on a product.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: In an agile project, incremental delivery and frequent demonstrations are methods used to gather continuous feedback, make adjustments, and improve the product value.
In incremental delivery, the product is delivered:
- A. In one big launch
- B. A piece at a time
- C. After complete product development
Answer: B. A piece at a time
Explanation: Incremental delivery refers to the process of delivering pieces of the overall product to the customer bit by bit, enabling feedback and improvements to be made continuously.
Demonstrations in Agile Projects are done:
- A. Once after completing the full project
- B. At the start of the project
- C. Frequently during the lifecycle of the project
Answer: C. Frequently during the lifecycle of the project
Explanation: Regular demonstrations allow for continuous feedback from the client or end-user, contributing to a higher value product.
Seeking feedback on the product can lead to:
- A. Improved product value
- B. Decrease in stakeholder interest
- C. Increase in the cost of production
Answer: A. Improved product value
Explanation: Regular feedback during incremental delivery and demonstrations allows for immediate incorporation of suggestions, leading to improved product value.
Incremental delivery and frequent demonstrations:
- A. Delay project delivery
- B. Improve customer satisfaction
- C. Increase development cost
Answer: B. Improve customer satisfaction
Explanation: When customers can see and use parts of the product early through incremental delivery and demonstrations, they are generally more satisfied.
True or False: The only purpose of incremental delivery is to speed up the production process.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While incremental delivery can speed up production, its main purpose is to allow for feedback and improvements throughout the product development process.
Incremental delivery and frequent demonstrations help in:
- A. Reducing the agility of the team
- B. Reducing risks and uncertainties
- C. Wasting developer’s time
Answer: B. Reducing risks and uncertainties
Explanation: By developing and showing work in increments, risks and uncertainties can be reduced as changes can be made during the development process.
In Agile project management, feedback should be:
- A. Ignored
- B. Sought only at the end of the project
- C. Sought throughout the project
Answer: C. Sought throughout the project
Explanation: In agile project management, ongoing feedback is important for constantly improving and addressing issues in real-time.
A successful agile project typically includes:
- A. Rapid feedback loops
- B. Limited interaction with stakeholders
- C. Fewer demonstrations
Answer: A. Rapid feedback loops
Explanation: Rapid feedback loops, facilitated by incremental delivery and regular demonstrations, allow for ongoing improvements and adjustments in the product.
Demonstrations and feedback are important in Agile methodology because:
- A. They slow down the development process
- B. They help in catching errors early in the process
- C. They generate additional paperwork
Answer: B. They help in catching errors early in the process
Explanation: Demonstrations and ongoing feedback enable errors or unwanted features to be caught and corrected early in the development process.
Great post! Incremental delivery really helps gather early feedback.
Absolutely! We’ve seen tremendous improvements by incorporating frequent demos. Users are more engaged too.
How often should demos be conducted in a Sprint to be effective?
Our team conducts weekly demos, and it’s been beneficial. Consistency is key!
Incremental delivery has significantly improved our product quality.
We implemented this approach recently, and user feedback has been invaluable.
I appreciate the detailed explanation on incremental delivery.
What metrics do you use to measure the success of these demos?