In the context of Agile project management, release and release planning are closely linked concepts that play a crucial role in delivering features and functionalities to users.
Release
A release refers to the delivery of a set of functionalities or features to the end user. This could be a new version of an app, a software update, or the launch of a new product entirely.
- Frequency: In Agile, releases tend to happen more frequently compared to traditional project management approaches. This allows for faster feedback loops and quicker adaptation to changing needs.
- Content: Releases can be major updates with significant new features or functionalities, or they can be minor updates focusing on bug fixes, performance enhancements, or minor improvements.
Release – Several Sprints worth of work directed to operations for possible rollout and testing
Release Planning:
Release planning is the process of defining, planning, and coordinating the activities involved in delivering a release. It involves tasks such as:
- Identifying features and functionalities to be included in the release.
- Estimating the effort and time required for development and testing.
- Setting a release date and establishing a development timeline.
- Identifying dependencies between different features and functionalities.
- Planning communication and marketing activities for the release
Release planning enables organisations to make informed investment decisions; it sets expectations, aligns stakeholders and development teams; and it allows product people to guide the work of the dev team.
Release planning can help answer questions such as:
- When will the project be completed?
- Which features will be available by the end of the year?
- How much will the project cost?
- What are the critical dates and milestones?
Planning with the medium-term horizon of the team allows having a vision for the future so the architecture or design of the planned features can be adapted without having to redesign them.
Who is Involved?
- Scrum Master − The scrum master acts as a facilitator for the agile delivery team.
- Product Owner − The product owner represents the general view of the product backlog.
- Agile Team − Agile delivery team provides insights on the technical feasibilities or any dependencies.
- Stakeholders − Stakeholders like customers, program managers, subject matter experts act as advisers as decisions are made around the release planning.
Release Burndown Chart
