What does it mean to avoid the 'snowball effect' in development?

Avoiding the 'snowball effect' in development refers specifically to the need to prevent minor errors or issues from escalating into larger, more complex problems that can hinder progress or diminish quality. By addressing these smaller issues promptly, teams can minimize the risk of them compounding over time. This proactive approach ensures that problems are managed effectively before they become overwhelming, allowing the development team to maintain productivity and focus on their objectives.

The other choices do not capture the essence of the 'snowball effect.' While avoiding project delays and ensuring proper planning are important aspects of project management, they do not directly relate to the concept of minor issues growing into larger problems. Similarly, concealing minor errors does not help in avoiding a snowball effect; rather, it can lead to worse outcomes as those concealed errors become more complex. Encouraging rapid deployment cycles, while beneficial in some contexts, doesn't address the need for error management and may even exacerbate the snowball effect if errors go unaddressed during quick iterations.