Answering: “True or False: An Increment must be released to customers or users at the end of each Sprint.” (PSPO I)

False. An Increment must be Done and usable at the end of each Sprint, but releasing it to customers is a separate business decision. The Product Owner may release more often, less often or not at all.

Exam Question

True or False: An Increment must be released to customers or users at the end of each Sprint.
A. True
B. False

Correct Answer

B. False

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The Scrum Guide requires a valuable, useful Increment every Sprint. It does not require that each Increment be released. Whether and when to release depends on the market, customer readiness, regulations and other business factors, which the Product Owner weighs to maximize value. The Guide also says an Increment may be delivered to stakeholders before the end of the Sprint, and that “The Sprint Review should never be considered a gate to releasing value.” So releases can happen during, at the end of or after a Sprint. What matters is that every Increment is in a state where it could be released if the Product Owner chose.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. True This confuses being Done with being released. Scrum requires a usable Increment every Sprint, but release timing is up to the Product Owner.

Exam Tip

Look carefully for the word “released.” Scrum requires a Done, usable Increment each Sprint; releasing it is never mandatory.

Key Takeaways

• Every Sprint produces a usable Increment.
• Releasing it is the Product Owner’s decision.
• Releases can happen at any point, not only at Sprint end.