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  • Guide overview
    • Gantt Chart Basics
      • How to read a Gantt chart step by step
      • 1. Read the task list (vertical axis) first
      • 2. Orient yourself on the timeline (horizontal axis)
      • 3. Understand what the bars represent
      • 4. Check the fill or progress indicator
      • 5. Follow the arrows or lines between bars
      • 6. Look for diamonds on the timeline
      • 7. Find the critical path if it’s marked
      • 8. Check for a baseline
      • 9. Use the legend
      • Example: Reading a simple Gantt chart
      • Common mistakes to avoid
      • Put what you’ve learned to work
    • Project Management Basics
      • What are the project management basics?
      • What is a project?
      • What is project management?
      • What are the stages of project management?
      • Why is project management important?
      • What do project managers do?
      • Project manager certifications
      • Streamline your projects with Wrike
    • Project Management Charts
      • How to choose the right project management chart
      • The “pick in 30 seconds” checklist
      • 1. Gantt chart
      • 2. Kanban board
      • 3. Work breakdown structure
      • 4. PERT chart
      • 5. Critical path method (CPM)
      • 6. Milestone chart
      • 7. Burndown and burnup charts (for Agile teams)
      • 8. RACI chart
      • Common mistakes when using project management charts
      • Final thoughts
    • Project Management Methodologies
      • The top project management methodologies
      • A. The traditional, sequential methodologies
      • B. The Agile family
      • C. The change management methodologies
      • D. The process-based methodologies
      • E. Other methodologies
      • F. The PMBOK “method”
      • Empower your project management methodology with Wrike
    • Project Lifecycle
      • Key takeaways
      • What is the project lifecycle? 
      • The 5 phases of a project lifecycle
      • 1. The initiation phase
      • 2. The planning phase
      • 3. The execution phase
      • 4. The controlling and monitoring phase
      • 5. Project closure phase
      • Types of project life cycles
      • Predictive lifecycle
      • Iterative lifecycle
      • Incremental lifecycle
      • Agile lifecycle
      • Hybrid lifecycle
      • Who is involved across the project lifecycle?
      • Project manager
      • Project sponsor
      • Team members
      • Stakeholders
      • Functional managers or department leads
      • Why is project lifecycle management important?
      • Best practices in project lifecycle management
      • Start with clear goals and scope
      • Assign clear roles and decision ownership
      • Build a realistic project plan
      • Track progress continuously
      • Standardize workflows where possible
      • Document learnings at closure
      • Use one source of truth
      • Take full control of your project lifecycle with Wrike
    • Best Project Management Software
      • Here’s a list of the project management software we review fully in this guide:
      • The best 15 project management software platforms in 2026
      • 1. Wrike: Best task management software for cross-functional collaboration
      • 2. Asana: Best task management software for attractive visuals
      • 3. Monday.com: Best task management software for use case templates
      • 4. Adobe Workfront: Best task management software for Adobe integration
      • 5. Smartsheet: Best task management software for spreadsheet-style functionality
      • 6. ClickUp: Best task management software for mind mapping
      • 7. Airtable: Best task management software for data-centric teams
      • 8. Jira: Best task management software for development teams
      • 9. Trello: Best task management software for simple projects
      • 10. Notion: Best task management software for document storage
      • 11. Hive: Best task management software for user-led feedback
      • 12. Zoho Projects: Best task management software for the real estate industry
      • 13. Teamwork: Best task management software for teams looking to get started quickly
      • 14. Basecamp: Best task management software for small businesses and teams
      • 15. GanttPro: Best task management software for specialist Gantt charts
      • 10 additional PM software options
      • 1. MeisterTask
      • 2. Microsoft Project 
      • 3. ProWorkflow
      • 4. TeamGantt
      • 5. Accelo
      • 6. ProjectManager
      • 7. Planview AdaptiveWork
      • 8. Scoro
      • 9. Confluence
      • 10. LiquidPlanner
      • Choose Wrike for customizable and truly scalable project management software
      • FAQsWhat is project management software? 
    • Team Collaboration Tips
      • Effective project collaboration tips for teams
      • The importance of collaboration in project management
      • How to set up a project team
      • What makes a successful project team
      • How to make the project kickoff meeting a success
      • Tips for effective team management
      • How to create a collaborative work environment
      • Project management collaboration tips and techniques
      • Tips for remote collaboration and virtual meetings
    • Agile Basics
    • Agile Project Management Tools
      • What are Agile project management tools?
      • How we evaluate and choose the top tools
      • The best Agile project management tools comparison chart
      • What are the 11 best Agile project management tools?
      • 1. Wrike
      • 2. Asana
      • 3. Monday.com
      • 4. ClickUp
      • 5. Smartsheet
      • 6. Adobe Workfront
      • 7. Jira [Atlassian] Work Management 
      • 8. Microsoft Project
      • 9. Teamwork
      • 10. Zoho Sprints
      • 11. ProofHub
      • How to pick the best Agile project management tool
      • Features to look for in Agile project management tools
      • Benefits of using Agile project management tools
      • Collaboration-boosting effects of Agile project management
      • How can an Agile project management tool help your company?
      • FAQs
      • Is Agile a project management tool?
      • How do Agile project management tools support software development teams?
      • Can Agile project management tools be customized for different project needs?
      • What are Agile methodologies, and how do they benefit Agile teams?
      • How do Agile tools improve collaboration in teams?
    • Project Management Frameworks
      • A. What is a project management framework?
      • B. What do Agile frameworks have in common?
      • C. The Scrum framework
      • D. Other popular Agile project management methods
      • Is Lean project management an Agile framework?
      • E. Agile epics defined
      • F. Project manager best practices for choosing the right framework
      • G. Free Agile project management tools
    • Resources
      • Project management resources and training
      • Project management training
      • Project management books
      • Leadership inspiration
    • Glossary
    • FAQ
      • Advanced Terminology
      • Agile Project Management
      • Basic Terminology
      • Methodologies
      • PM Software Features
      • PMI
      • Professional Development
      • Tools
    1. Home
    2. Project Management Guide
    3. FAQ
    4. Advanced Terminology

    What is Iterative and Incremental Development?

    2 min readLAST UPDATED ON APR 15, 2025
    Artem Gurnov
    Artem Gurnov Director of Account Development, Wrike
    See Wrike for PMO

    What is Iterative and Incremental Development?

    Iterative and incremental development is a process that combines the iterative design method with the incremental build model. It is used by software developers to help manage projects. 

    To fully understand the incremental and iterative development process, you must first split it into its two parts: 

    • Incremental: An incremental approach breaks the software development process down into small, manageable portions known as increments. Each increment builds on the previous version so that improvements are made step by step. 
    • Iterative: An iterative model means software development activities are systematically repeated in cycles known as iterations. A new version of the software is produced after each iteration until the optimal product is achieved.

    Iterative and incremental development models are complementary in nature, which is why they are often used together to boost their efficacy and achieve project deliverables.

    Iterative and Incremental Development in Agile

    The incremental and iterative development process is closely associated with Agile project management, most notably the Scrum methodology. This is because it aligns with one of the key pillars of Agile: responding to change over following a set plan. 

    Rather than adhering to a linear Waterfall method, software developers will react quickly to changes as their product evolves. They will build on previous versions to improve their product and repeat this process until the desired deliverables are achieved.

     An example of iterative and incremental development in Agile could be the creation of a new e-commerce website. The project would be broken down into smaller increments, such as building a wireframe, uploading products, and creating advertising copy. As these steps are unfolding, the software development team would repeat the cycles of prototyping and testing to make improvements to the website with each iteration.

    Why is iterative and incremental development important?

    The incremental and iterative development process is integral to the field of Agile software development as it enables project managers to reap the benefits of both incremental and iterative approaches.

    Incremental development ensures that developers can make changes early on in the process rather than waiting until the end when the allotted time has run out and the money has been spent.

    Iterative development means improvements are made on an ongoing basis, so the end result is likely to be delivered on time and be of higher quality. This belief is echoed by CIO.com, which notes that short, iterative sprints can help teams to “deliver a better product, in a faster manner.”

    Find out how Wrike’s versatile features can help you improve your Agile project management.

    Further Reading:

    • Introducing Agile Project Management
    • How to Streamline Product Development With Project Management Tools
    • The Step-By-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Agile Workflow in Wrike
    • How to Develop a Process Improvement Plan
    Advanced Terminology 5 questions

    Change management in project management is the structured use of tools, processes, and leadership to manage how changes affect projects, teams, and stakeholders. It combines overseeing project work with supporting people through transitions, ensuring changes are understood, accepted, and adopted while minimizing disruption and helping projects achieve their intended goals successfully.

    Read the full article

    A cost-benefit analysis in project management compares a project’s expected benefits to its total costs to determine whether it’s worth pursuing. It gives teams a clear, data-backed view of a project’s financial viability by quantifying costs, forecasting benefits, and calculating metrics like ROI and NPV. This helps decision makers prioritize initiatives and allocate resources with confidence.

    Read the full article

    Cost control in project management is the process of monitoring and managing project expenses to make sure the work stays within budget. It includes tracking spending, planning for financial risks, and preparing for potential setbacks that could drive unexpected costs. Effective cost control helps teams avoid overruns, stay on schedule, and use resources more efficiently.

    Read the full article

    Cost management in project management requires estimating, budgeting, and controlling project expenses so that the work can stay financially on track. Teams can predict future costs, monitor spending throughout the project lifecycle, and compare planned versus actual costs to improve future budgeting. Effective cost management helps prevent overruns, reduce risk, and support better resource planning and long-term profitability.

    Read the full article

    Cost variance is a measure of a project’s financial performance that compares the budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP) with the actual cost of work performed (ACWP). It shows whether a project is over or under budget, helping teams track spending as the project progresses. A variance close to zero is ideal, though difficult to achieve in practice.

    Read the full article
    Basic Project Management
    • Project Charter
    • Project Management Stakeholders
    • What is a Project?
    • Work Breakdown Structure
    • Project Objectives
    • Project Baseline
    • Project Management Scheduling
    • Project Management Work Packages
    • Project Management Scope
    • Scope Creep
    Advanced Project Management
    • What is PERT?
    • S-Curve
    • Network Diagram
    • SMART
    • Risk Management
    • Cost Estimation
    • Feasibility Study
    • Monte Carlo Analysis
    • Project Integration
    • Cost Management
    PMI
    • Milestones
    • PDU
    • PMI Project Management
    • What To Do With Certification
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    • Become Certified
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    • Best Certification
    Software Features
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    • Capacity Planning
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    • Request Forms
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    • Version Control
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