CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
Your organization is initiating a new mobile app development project. The product owner expects to release a minimum viable product (MVP) within three months, with subsequent iterations based on user feedback. The development team is experienced with agile methodologies. The project sponsor, however, is accustomed to traditional waterfall projects and insists on a detailed upfront plan covering all requirements and a fixed schedule. You need to select a project life cycle that balances the product owner's desire for iterative delivery with the sponsor's need for predictability. What is the most appropriate approach?
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
✓
Use an iterative life cycle with a high-level plan and regular releases
An iterative life cycle allows for early delivery of an MVP and incorporates feedback, while providing some planning structure. Pure agile may be too flexible for the sponsor; waterfall is too rigid. The key is to combine predictability with iteration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Combine agile and waterfall by using waterfall for planning and agile for execution
Why it's wrong here
This hybrid may confuse roles and is not a standard life cycle; better to choose one primary approach.
- ✓
Use an iterative life cycle with a high-level plan and regular releases
Why this is correct
Iterative life cycle provides structure and allows for incremental delivery, satisfying both parties.
- ✗
Use a pure agile approach with no upfront planning beyond the MVP
Why it's wrong here
The sponsor requires predictability, which pure agile lacks.
- ✗
Use a waterfall life cycle to create a detailed plan as the sponsor wants
Why it's wrong here
Waterfall does not support iterative delivery and user feedback.
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