CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
Which TWO of the following are true regarding a project's life cycle?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the project life cycle with the product life cycle, assuming they are the same or that the project life cycle defines the product life cycle, when in fact the product life cycle is the broader umbrella.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Hybrid life cycles combine predictive and adaptive approaches.
Option A is correct because a hybrid life cycle deliberately blends predictive (plan-driven, waterfall-like) and adaptive (iterative/incremental/agile) approaches, for example using fixed high-level scope with iterative delivery. Option C is correct because a predictive life cycle is commonly known as the waterfall model, where scope, time, and cost are determined early and changes are managed through formal change control. Option B is wrong because adaptive life cycles are used in many domains beyond software, such as product development, marketing, and research. Option D is wrong because the number and names of phases vary by project, industry, and organization. Option E is wrong because the project life cycle and the product life cycle are distinct; the product life cycle generally spans a longer period and can encompass multiple project life cycles.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Hybrid life cycles combine predictive and adaptive approaches.
Why this is correct
Hybrid life cycles deliberately blend predictive and adaptive elements, applying plan-driven phases where requirements are stable and iterative or incremental phases where they are not. This mix lets teams tailor governance and delivery approach to different parts of the same project.
- ✗
Adaptive life cycles are only used for software projects.
Why it's wrong here
Adaptive life cycles suit any domain needing frequent change, including R&D and marketing campaigns, so restricting them to software is false. The option tempts because adaptive methods like agile originated in software, yet the life cycle choice depends on requirement volatility, not industry.
- ✓
Predictive life cycles are also called waterfall.
Why this is correct
Predictive life cycles are indeed termed waterfall because scope, schedule and cost are fixed early, with each phase flowing sequentially into the next. This satisfies the stem's requirement for a true life-cycle statement, since the waterfall label reflects that deterministic, plan-driven progression rather than iterative delivery.
- ✗
All projects have the same number of phases.
Why it's wrong here
Phase counts vary by industry, size and complexity; a construction project may have five phases while an IT upgrade has three. The option tempts because all life cycles share generic stage names such as initiation and closure, but that common structure does not fix the number of phases.
- ✗
The project life cycle defines the product life cycle.
Why it's wrong here
The project life cycle governs the management effort to deliver a product, whereas the product life cycle spans the product's market existence beyond the project. The option tempts because project phases often align with product development stages, but the project life cycle does not define the product life cycle.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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