If the Development Team struggles to deliver a work increment, what should they do?

The Development Team should complete what they can and discuss the challenges they faced during the Sprint Review. This approach fosters transparency and encourages open communication with the stakeholders. By presenting the incomplete work during the Sprint Review, the team can provide visibility into their progress and any obstacles they encountered. This collaborative discussion allows for immediate feedback and insights from the Product Owner and other stakeholders, which can inform future work and adaptations to the backlog.

Additionally, bringing the issues to light during the Sprint Review is a crucial part of the Scrum framework. It promotes a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the team. The team can collectively assess what hindered their performance, whether it was unforeseen complexities, resource limitations, or external factors, and utilize this knowledge to improve future Sprints. Thus, addressing struggles openly rather than ignoring them or merely adjusting scope without understanding the root cause is more effective in the long run.