TOPIC: Free CAPM® Exam Sample Question

Which of the following methods is recommended in a rapidly changing environment?

A. Predictive life cycle
B. Iterative life cycle
C. Adaptive life cycle
D. Fully plan-driven

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HINT: What does "adaptive" mean?

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Answer and Explanation:
The correct answer is C

In a rapidly changing environment, where requirements are difficult to define in advance, the adaptive method divides and distributes the project scope and requirements into small iterations. Customers and other stakeholders can raise changes to scope or requirements that have not been started in the current iteration. So this life cycle is often recommended in such environment. While the predictive or fully plan-driven life cycle is often preferred when the product is well-understood, and the iterative life cycle does not stress short iterations.

Details for each option:

A. Predictive life cycle
Incorrect. Predictive life cycles require a fully developed project plan to be developed early in the project life cycle. Every change in project requirements needs to be carefully considered, as it results in project re-planning and baselining. Therefore, the predictive life cycle is not recommended in a rapidly changing environment.

B. Iterative life cycle
Incorrect. Although an iterative life cycle carefully manages changes to the scope of an iteration and allows changes to work that has not started, its iterations may not be as short as the iterations in the adaptive life cycle to deal with rapid changes.

C. Adaptive life cycle
Correct. Similar to the iterative life cycle, the adaptive life cycle also divides the project into iterations, but they are normally very rapid, usually from 2 to 4 weeks. The work for each iteration still needs to be carefully managed.

D. Fully plan-driven
Incorrect. 'Fully plan-driven' method is another name for the predictive life cycle, which requires a fully developed project plan to be developed as early in the project life cycle. Every change in project requirements needs to be carefully considered, as it results in project re-planning and baselining. Therefore, this life cycle is not recommended in a rapidly changing environment.

Reference: Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) – Sixth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2017, Page(s) 131