Program Increment (PI) is a timeboxed period, typically 8-12 weeks, during which cross-functional teams work together to deliver a set of features and business value. It is a crucial element of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), a popular framework for scaling agile practices across multiple teams and projects.
Let's take an example of a software company developing a new e-commerce platform. During a Program Increment, the development teams may focus on delivering features such as a shopping cart, payment gateway integration, and user authentication. By the end of the Program Increment, these features are integrated and ready for release, providing tangible value to the end-users.
Program Increment plays a vital role in ensuring alignment and synchronization across multiple teams working on a large-scale project. It provides a structured approach to planning, executing, and delivering value incrementally. Here are a few reasons why Program Increment is important:
To effectively use Program Increment in your product management process, consider the following steps:
Here are some useful tips to enhance your Program Increment practices:
A program increment is a timeboxed period of development in Agile product management, usually lasting 8-12 weeks, where a set of features and capabilities are delivered.
The purpose of a program increment is to allow teams to plan, develop, and deliver a set of features and capabilities in a synchronized manner, ensuring alignment and progress towards larger business objectives.
A program increment typically lasts between 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the organization's preferences and the nature of the product being developed.
A program increment is a higher-level timebox that encompasses multiple sprints. It focuses on delivering a set of features and capabilities, while a sprint is a shorter timebox, usually 1-4 weeks, where a specific set of tasks is completed.
A program increment involves various stakeholders, including product managers, product owners, development teams, scrum masters, and any other relevant roles required for the successful delivery of the product.
A program increment is planned through a collaborative effort involving product managers, product owners, and development teams. They work together to define objectives, prioritize features, estimate efforts, and create a roadmap for the program increment.
At the end of a program increment, the teams review and demonstrate the features and capabilities developed during that period. They also conduct a retrospective to reflect on the process and identify areas for improvement in the next program increment.
A program increment contributes to Agile development by providing a structured approach to planning, developing, and delivering features in a synchronized manner. It helps teams stay aligned, adapt to changes, and continuously improve their product.
Using program increments brings several benefits, including improved alignment between teams, better visibility of progress, enhanced collaboration, the ability to prioritize and deliver valuable features regularly, and increased adaptability to changes in market and business conditions.
Yes, program increments can be adjusted or changed during their duration based on evolving priorities, feedback, or any other factors that may impact the product's development. Flexibility and adaptability are key principles in Agile product management.