Iteration

An iteration is a short, timeboxed cycle of work in which a team plans, builds, tests and reviews a small increment of a product. Iterations repeat at a steady cadence, so a project advances through many small, complete loops rather than one long pass. Each cycle produces working output and a chance to inspect and adapt.

Iterative work is a hallmark of adaptive (agile) approaches; in Scrum the iteration is called a sprint. The value of iterating is early feedback: by delivering something usable quickly and often, a team reduces the risk of building the wrong thing and can respond to change.

Related: iterative approach, sprint, incremental approach.

Last updated: 4 July 2026 · By Tom, PMP-certified since 2004

Related Articles:

 
  • Acceptance – Definition Acceptance is the noun form of the previously defined verb “accept“. It represents the state of being in which one...
    •  
  • Project Risk Management Project Risk Management is a branch of the discipline of project management that deals with identifying and mitigating risk on...
    •  
  • To-Complete Performance Index The To-Complete Performance Index (TCPI) is a tool in project management that is used to measure the cost performance required...
    •  
  • Navigating Project Management: Traditional, Agile, and the Hybrid Approach Project management is a critical component for successful execution of any project, regardless of the industry or domain. It provides...
    •  
  • Issue Log There are many project documents involved in project management.  Project documents are necessary because they provide the team with the...