What Is a Product Increment in Scrum?
A Product Increment is the sum of all completed work that meets the Definition of Done at a given point in time. It represents the current usable state of the product, not just the newly added parts.
Metaphor
A Product Increment is like a savings account balance — it includes every past deposit that cleared, not just the most recent one. Both represent the total usable value accumulated so far.
In Scrum, each Increment rolls prior completed work into the current usable product, showing progress as a whole rather than just the latest additions.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking:(1)
1.
Susek C. What is a Product Increment [Internet]. scrum.org; [cited 2025 Sep 1]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TLTynKujNo&t=1s