Guide: Small Releases and PMI-ACP Exam
Small Releases
This is a key practice in Agile methodologies such as Extreme Programming (XP). Small releases allow for frequent interaction with customers and users to obtain their feedback and rapidly reflecting it in the development process.
Importance:
Small Releases allow for continuous integration, rapid feedback and quick adaptation, enhancing the product's overall quality and making it more compliant to user requirements.
Working:
The team works on small subsets of the functionalities of the product which are developed, integrated and released sequentially. Frequent releases mean that the end-users will be able to get the working software faster and they can provide their feedback quickly.
Exam Tips:
While answering questions on small releases, it's important to focus on the benefits such as early and continuous feedback, better risk management, and increased customer satisfaction. You might see a question framed around the challenges of small releases or the strategies to implement it effectively.
Remember, Small releases operates on the philosophy that 'small batches are better than big ones' and it reduces the risk and increases control over the project outcomes.
Don't get confused between small releases and frequent delivery. The former is about releasing minimal functionalities while the latter is about delivery cycle's frequency.
Always put the emphasis on customer feedback and adapting to it in subsequent releases.