The 2020 Scrum Guide defines an Increment as “a concrete stepping stone toward the product goal. Each Increment is additive to all prior Increments and thoroughly verified, ensuring that all Increments work together. To provide value, the Increment must be usable… The entire Scrum Team is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment every Sprint.”

A Product Increment is the sum of all Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint, combined with all previous Sprint increments. The increment must be usable, meaning it should work as intended. This aligns with the Scrum principle of delivering "Done" increments potentially releasable. Usability is a key aspect of the Definition of Done in Scrum.

Scrum Master ensures the event happens but doesn't control how it happens - that's up to the developers. It lines up with Servant Leadership, supports team self-management while ensures the event occurs, focuses on enabling rather than controlling, maintains Scrum Framework without overstepping, and allows developers to own how they conduct the event.

Scrum Guide Reference:

"The Scrum Master ensures that the Developers have the meeting, but the Developers are responsible for conducting it."

Key Responsibilities:

1. Developers Own the Daily Scrum
   • They organize and run the meeting (typically timeboxed to 15 minutes).
   • They use it to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt their plan for the next 24 hours.
   • The format (e.g., "Three Questions," walking the board) is up to the Developers.
2. Scrum Master’s Duty
   • Ensures the Event Happens: The Scrum Master makes sure the Developers hold the Daily Scrum, but they do not need to attend unless actively participating as a Developer (e.g., in a small team).
   • Coaches Effectiveness: If the meeting becomes status-reporting or dysfunctional, the Scrum Master intervenes to reinforce its purpose (e.g., "Are we aligning on the Sprint Goal?").
   • Removes Impediments: If external parties disrupt the Daily Scrum, the Scrum Master shields the team.