Why is this considered an anti-pattern?

A team integrates and tests the Stories on the last day of the Iteration. This has become a pattern for the last three Iterations.

Why is this considered an anti-pattern?
A . Because the team is waterfalling the Iteration
B . Because the team demonstrates the full Stories to the Product Owner during the Iteration review
C . Because the team consistently meets their commitments, and the Product Owner accepts the Stories
D . Because it is difficult to manage dependencies with other teams

View Answer

Answer: A

Explanation:

Waterfalling the Iteration: The term "waterfalling" in an Agile context refers to the anti-pattern where teams delay integration, testing, and other critical activities until the end of the iteration, mimicking the Waterfall model of sequential phases.

Agile Practice: In Agile, the goal is to continuously integrate and test stories throughout the iteration. This practice ensures that issues are identified and addressed early, and the product increment is always in a potentially shippable state.

Anti-pattern Explanation

Integrating and testing stories only on the last day of the iteration means the team is not practicing continuous integration. This can lead to hidden defects, reduced quality, and last-minute rushes that jeopardize the team’s ability to meet commitments effectively.

SAFe Scrum Master

Reference: SAFe emphasizes continuous integration and regular testing as key practices to maintain quality and agility. Delaying these activities to the end of the iteration undermines these principles and can lead to significant issues.