Certified Scrum Master Practice Test

Which statement about iterative and incremental development is accurate?

1. Iterative is always better than incremental

2. Incremental is not useful in Agile

3. Neither is better; they serve different purposes

4. Iterative development is unnecessary in Scrum

The correct answer is: Neither is better; they serve different purposes

The correct statement identifies that neither iterative nor incremental development is inherently better; rather, they serve distinct purposes within the software development process. Understanding these two concepts is crucial in the context of Agile methodologies. Iterative development involves revisiting and refining aspects of a product through multiple cycles, enabling teams to incorporate feedback, reduce risks, and improve quality over time. This process allows for continuous improvement and adaptation, crucial traits in Agile environments where client needs and project contexts can change quickly. On the other hand, incremental development breaks the product into smaller, manageable segments or increments that can be delivered and reviewed independently. This approach allows for parts of the software to be deployed and tested earlier, providing value to customers sooner and enabling ongoing feedback for further enhancements. Recognizing that both iterative and incremental approaches complement each other allows teams to leverage their strengths, leading to a more flexible and responsive development process. Using them together helps teams maintain the balance of delivering functional software while also improving and adapting that software based on stakeholder feedback and evolving requirements.