PMI Scheduling Professional Certification (PMI-SP) Practice Exam

What is the defining feature of an iterative life cycle?

1. Deliverables are produced in bulk at the end.

2. Feedback is used to improve and modify unfinished work.

3. The scope is fixed and unchangeable.

4. Deliverable quality is assessed upfront.

The correct answer is: Feedback is used to improve and modify unfinished work.

The defining feature of an iterative life cycle is that feedback is used to improve and modify unfinished work. In this approach, projects are developed in repetitions or iterations, allowing teams to apply insights gained from feedback after each iteration. This fosters adaptability and continuous improvement, as stakeholders can review progress and provide input at various stages, encouraging adjustments to the project's direction, scope, and features based on what they learn. This iterative process allows teams to refine deliverables progressively, ensuring that the final product better meets user needs and expectations. It contrasts with linear approaches where feedback typically occurs only at the end of the project, limiting the ability to address issues or changes until it may be too late to incorporate them effectively. Other options reflect different approaches. Producing deliverables in bulk at the end aligns more with traditional, waterfall methodologies, where completion and feedback are sequenced. A fixed and unchangeable scope indicates a rigid framework that does not embrace the flexibility inherent in iterative cycles. Assessing deliverable quality upfront aligns with a different project management style, which may not allow for modifications based on ongoing feedback throughout the development process.