Agile Life Cycle
A way of working that combines iterative cycles with incremental delivery so teams continually refine work items and release usable value on a frequent cadence.
Key Points
- Blends iteration (learning and adjusting each cycle) with incremental delivery (small, usable releases).
- Backlog items are refined continuously based on feedback and changing priorities.
- Timeboxed cycles aim to produce a potentially releasable increment each iteration.
- Optimizes for early value, adaptability, and transparency through frequent stakeholder engagement.
Example
A product team building a mobile app works in two-week iterations. In Iteration 1 they deliver a basic login and profile, then gather user feedback. In Iteration 2 they add notifications and improve performance. Every review, the backlog is re-ordered to focus on the most valuable features, and a small, working increment is released each cycle.
PMP Example Question
A sponsor wants working features every two weeks while accepting that requirements will evolve as users provide feedback. Which life cycle best fits this need?
- Predictive life cycle with fixed scope and sequential phases
- Iterative only, using prototypes but delivering the full product at the end
- Incremental only, building components once without repeating cycles
- Agile life cycle that is both iterative and incremental, enabling frequent delivery
Correct Answer: D — Agile life cycle
Explanation: The agile life cycle combines iterative refinement with incremental releases, allowing frequent delivery and adaptation to evolving requirements.
