Answering: “For the purpose of transparency, when does Scrum say a valuable and useful Increment must be available?”

A valuable, useful Increment must be available at the end of every Sprint. Scrum has no release Sprint, acceptance testing phase or wait for the Product Owner’s request.

Exam Question

For the purpose of transparency, when does Scrum say a valuable and useful Increment must be available? (choose the best answer)

• A. Before the Release Sprint.
• B. After the Acceptance Testing phase.
• C. At the end of every Sprint.
• D. Every 3 Sprints.
• E. When the Product Owner asks to create one.

Correct Answer

C. At the end of every Sprint.

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The Scrum Guide describes Sprints as “the heartbeat of Scrum, where ideas are turned into value.” Each Sprint must produce at least one Increment that meets the Definition of Done, because the Increment is what makes progress transparent. At the Sprint Review, the Scrum Team and stakeholders inspect it and decide what to do next. If usable work only appeared every few Sprints or after a separate phase, the team would be inspecting plans and partial work instead of reality. The Product Owner may decide not to release a given Increment, but it must still be done and usable.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. Before the Release Sprint. Scrum does not include Release Sprints. Their existence suggests a weak Definition of Done.

B. After the Acceptance Testing phase. Testing happens within every Sprint as part of the Definition of Done, not in a separate phase.

D. Every 3 Sprints. Spacing out Increments reduces transparency and delays feedback.

E. When the Product Owner asks for one. Releasing is the Product Owner’s call, but having a usable Increment is required every Sprint regardless.

Exam Tip

Separate two ideas: creating a Done Increment is required every Sprint, while releasing it is a business decision. Questions often blur them.

Key Takeaways

• Every Sprint ends with a usable Increment.
• The Increment makes progress transparent.
• Releasing is optional; being Done is not.