In an Agile project, how is progress typically measured?

In Agile project management, progress is mainly measured by the amount of work completed in iterations, also known as sprints. This approach allows teams to deliver functional increments of the product frequently, usually within two to four weeks. Measuring progress in this way focuses on tangible, incremental delivery of value to the customer, aligning closely with Agile principles that emphasize frequent delivery and responsiveness to change.

Teams utilize various metrics, such as burn-down charts or velocity, to track how much work has been done and how much remains to be completed in future iterations. This iterative feedback loop not only assesses the development progress but also engages stakeholders more continuously, allowing for adjustments based on feedback after each iteration. By prioritizing what is necessary for each increment, Agile promotes a flexible approach to project management that ideally aligns with user needs and changing requirements.

Progress measured by the completion of phases might align more with traditional project management approaches, where projects are seen as linear sequences of phases. Stakeholder approval is important but not a direct measure of progress; it often occurs as a secondary effect of the iterative work. Finally, focusing solely on final delivery does not provide ongoing insight into the project's progression and could lead to risks if issues are not identified until the end. Thus, the correct focus on iterations