Understanding Frequent Releases in Scrum
In Scrum and other Agile practices, delivering changes frequently and directly into production is a common approach to reduce risks and improve product quality. This practice, often associated with Continuous Delivery, allows teams to receive feedback earlier and address issues quickly.
Exam Question
Does delivering changes frequently and directly into production help to reduce risk?
(choose the best two answers)
A. Yes, because you get earlier feedback and can learn faster.
B. No, the only way to tackle these risks is by extensive risk management.
C. Yes, because the changes you make are much smaller and it is easier to fix problems.
D. Yes, because frequent releases encourage the Developers to automate the release process.
E. No, because releasing needs extensive testing which cannot be conducted frequently.
F. No, because each release means a risk to break something so releasing more frequently would increase the risk.
Correct Answers
A. Yes, because you get earlier feedback and can learn faster.
C. Yes, because the changes you make are much smaller and it is easier to fix problems.
Explanation
Correct Answers
A. Yes, because you get earlier feedback and can learn faster:
Delivering changes frequently allows the team to receive feedback from users and stakeholders much earlier in the process. This feedback loop helps the team understand the impact of their changes, learn from the results, and make necessary adjustments quickly. This early feedback reduces the likelihood of building features that do not meet user needs and helps in identifying defects sooner.
C. Yes, because the changes you make are much smaller and it is easier to fix problems:
When changes are delivered frequently, they are typically smaller in scope. Smaller changes are easier to test, understand, and debug, reducing the risk of introducing significant issues into the production environment. If a problem does arise, it is easier to isolate and resolve, minimizing the impact on the overall system.
Why the Other Options Are Less Appropriate
B. No, the only way to tackle these risks is by extensive risk management:
While risk management is important, delivering changes frequently and iteratively is itself a powerful risk mitigation strategy in Agile practices. It allows for continuous learning and adaptation, which can be more effective than traditional extensive risk management approaches.
D. Yes, because frequent releases encourage the Developers to automate the release process:
While automation is beneficial and often a byproduct of frequent releases, it is not the primary reason that frequent releases reduce risk. The main benefits are related to early feedback and smaller, more manageable changes.
E. No, because releasing needs extensive testing which cannot be conducted frequently:
Automated testing and continuous integration practices allow for frequent testing, making it possible to release changes regularly without sacrificing quality.
F. No, because each release means a risk to break something so releasing more frequently would increase the risk:
Frequent releases reduce the risk by ensuring that changes are smaller and easier to manage. This approach contrasts with infrequent, large releases, which are more likely to introduce significant issues.
Relevance to the PSD Exam
Understanding the benefits of frequent releases is essential for the Professional Scrum Developer (PSD) exam. This knowledge demonstrates how Agile practices help reduce risks and improve product quality through continuous delivery and early feedback loops.
Key Takeaways
- Frequent releases allow for early feedback and faster learning, reducing the risk of building the wrong features or introducing defects.
- Smaller changes are easier to test and debug, making it easier to fix problems when they arise.
Conclusion
Delivering changes frequently and directly into production is a key practice in Agile development that helps reduce risks by enabling early feedback and focusing on smaller, more manageable changes. This approach ensures that issues are identified and resolved quickly, leading to higher-quality products and more satisfied stakeholders. For more information on preparing for the PSD exam, visit our Professional Scrum Developer PSD™ Exam Prep.
