Development Approach and Life Cycle – PMP Sample Questions
Q1.
You are managing a software project where requirements are expected to evolve. What is the most appropriate development approach?
A. Predictive
B. Incremental
C. Waterfall
D. Adaptive
Answer: ✅ D. Adaptive
Explanation: Adaptive (Agile) is best for environments with evolving requirements and high change.
Q2.
A project is divided into several phases with a formal sign-off at the end of each. What development approach does this represent?
A. Agile
B. Hybrid
C. Predictive
D. Iterative
Answer: ✅ C. Predictive
Explanation: Predictive life cycles are plan-driven with sequential phases and formal phase gates.
Q3.
Which of the following is a characteristic of an iterative life cycle?
A. Requirements must be fixed before work begins
B. Feedback is gathered only at the end
C. Scope is refined through repeated deliveries
D. All changes must go through change control
Answer: ✅ C. Scope is refined through repeated deliveries
Explanation: Iterative approaches refine the product through multiple cycles before final delivery.
Q4.
In which development approach are high-level requirements established early, and detailed requirements evolve over time?
A. Predictive
B. Waterfall
C. Hybrid
D. Agile
Answer: ✅ D. Agile
Explanation: Agile uses evolving requirements and adaptive planning with continuous stakeholder input.
Q5.
A team is working in 2-week sprints and holding regular stand-up meetings. What type of life cycle is being used?
A. Predictive
B. Incremental
C. Agile
D. Waterfall
Answer: ✅ C. Agile
Explanation: Short sprints and daily stand-ups are Agile practices.
Q6.
Which of the following best defines a hybrid development approach?
A. Only Agile methods used
B. Only Predictive methods used
C. A mix of Agile and Predictive tailored for the project
D. Multiple predictive methodologies used
Answer: ✅ C. A mix of Agile and Predictive tailored for the project
Explanation: Hybrid combines Agile and Predictive methods depending on project needs.
Q7.
What should the project manager do before selecting the development approach?
A. Begin stakeholder engagement
B. Define the WBS
C. Assess organizational process assets and project environment
D. Conduct lessons learned review
Answer: ✅ C. Assess organizational process assets and project environment
Explanation: The environment, culture, and governance influence the appropriate development approach.
Q8.
What distinguishes incremental from iterative approaches?
A. Iterative delivers value early; incremental does not
B. Incremental delivers usable product increments; iterative refines functionality
C. Incremental is only used in predictive models
D. Iterative releases final output only at the end
Answer: ✅ B. Incremental delivers usable product increments; iterative refines functionality
Explanation: Incremental adds usable components, while iterative refines a solution based on feedback.
Q9.
In a hybrid project, the team is using predictive methods for hardware and Agile for software. What should the project manager focus on?
A. Enforcing Agile on all parts
B. Keeping development separate and uncoordinated
C. Integrating plans and coordinating interfaces
D. Changing to only one methodology
Answer: ✅ C. Integrating plans and coordinating interfaces
Explanation: In hybrid projects, integration and coordination are critical for managing dependencies.
Q10.
What is the main advantage of using Agile in a project with high uncertainty?
A. Minimal documentation
B. Reduced cost
C. Flexibility to adapt to changes
D. Faster initial planning
Answer: ✅ C. Flexibility to adapt to changes
Explanation: Agile enables continuous adaptation based on feedback, ideal for uncertain environments.