Variable-Length Iterations
From Mp
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Pattern Type
Practice
This pattern is a practice pattern, since it defines how work is broken up within an existing structured pattern. It defines the approach to dividing chunks of work based upon a time line.
Description
There are a number of different types of "iterations." See Iteration for an explanation of what it is. Variable-Length Iterations refer to iterations whose length of time is not fixed (see Lifecycle Time-Boxed Iterations for an example of an iteration whose length is fixed). Typically, these types of iterations are used to group chunks of features into an "internal" release (i.e. not a release that is deployed, but a release that is labeled and tested). These types of iterations may or may not contain a full lifecycle. In some cases, these types of iterations are merely "elaboration" iterations, which means that the work done during the iteration is to further the level of detail of a particular work package (or a set of work packages). For example, multiple variable-length iterations may be used to design a piece of software, which each subsequent iteration defining a greater level of detail.
