Increment
A working, tested, and formally accepted deliverable that represents a portion of the total project result.
Key Points
- Must be functional and usable on its own or with previously completed parts.
- Verified through quality control/testing and formally accepted against defined acceptance criteria.
- Represents a discrete slice of scope that integrates with earlier increments to build the final outcome.
- Typically delivered at a phase, milestone, or iteration to provide value early and reduce risk.
Example
In a payroll system project, the tax calculation module that has been coded, tested, integrated, and signed off by the sponsor is an increment. It is a functional, approved portion of the final system.
PMP Example Question
Which of the following best represents an increment in a project?
- A draft design document awaiting stakeholder review
- A tested reporting module that has passed QA and been formally accepted
- A set of rough order of magnitude estimates for future work
- A proof-of-concept prototype that has not been validated
Correct Answer: B — A working, tested, and accepted part of the final product
Explanation: An increment is a functional deliverable that has been verified and formally accepted, representing a subset of the overall project outcome.
