PMI-ACP Practice Questions #23
You are managing a release planning session for a product that spans 4 iterations, involving two Agile teams working on different components. The overall integration and testing are estimated to take 2 weeks. How would you recommend managing the iterations to ensure timely delivery and seamless integration?
A. Focus on developing all the features in the first 3 iterations with regular team-level demos, leaving iteration 4 for integration and testing.
B. Ensure integration happens every iteration and spread the testing and integration effort evenly across all 4 iterations.
C. Engage with key stakeholders in a planning session to determine the most feasible approach based on the readiness needs of the product during release.
D. Plan integration as a separate activity post-iteration 4, ensuring that all development work is complete before integration and testing begin.
Analysis
The scenario presents a release planning session for a product spanning four iterations, involving two Agile teams working on different components. The integration and testing effort is estimated to take two weeks, making it crucial to structure iterations effectively for timely delivery and seamless integration. The challenge is to determine the best way to manage integration while adhering to Agile principles.
Analysis of Options
A. Focus on developing all the features in the first 3 iterations with regular team-level demos, leaving iteration 4 for integration and testing.
While team-level demos provide visibility, postponing integration feedback until the last iteration increases the risk of uncovering major issues too late. Integration and testing should not be a separate final phase but an ongoing activity. This approach is not aligned with Agile principles of continuous integration and early feedback.
B. Ensures integration happens in every iteration and spreads the testing and integration effort evenly across all four iterations.
This aligns with Agile principles by allowing early detection of defects, technical misalignments, and dependencies, reducing surprises before release. By integrating frequently, the teams can address issues iteratively rather than waiting until the final iteration, making this approach more adaptable and efficient.
C. Engage with key stakeholders in a planning session to determine the most feasible approach based on the readiness needs of the product during release.
While stakeholder engagement is important, decisions about technical execution, such as integration and testing, should be made by the development teams. Depending on stakeholders to decide how integration should be handled might introduce delays and unpredictability rather than following a structured, proactive approach.
D. Plan integration as a separate activity post-iteration 4, ensuring that all development work is complete before integration and testing begin.
This mirrors a traditional waterfall approach, where testing and integration happen only after development is finished. It introduces high risk since defects and compatibility issues will be discovered late, leading to rushed fixes and possible delays. This contradicts Agile’s emphasis on continuous integration and early testing.
Conclusion
The best choice is Option B: Ensure integration happens every iteration and spread the testing and integration effort evenly across all four iterations. This approach aligns with Agile best practices by promoting continuous integration, reducing late-stage failures, and allowing for faster feedback loops, ensuring that potential issues are addressed incrementally rather than all at once.
PMI – ACP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
| Mindset | Experiment Early |
| Mindset | Shorten Feedback Loops |
| Product | Manage Increments |
Topics Covered:
- Continuous integration and testing in every iteration to prevent late-stage failures
- Early identification and resolution of dependencies between teams
- Shortening feedback loops by validating work incrementally
- Ensuring each iteration delivers a working, integrated product
- Reducing risks by addressing technical challenges progressively
- Optimizing workflow by spreading integration efforts across iterations
- Maintaining predictability in delivery through frequent testing and validation
If you’re preparing for the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® Exam, we highly recommend enrolling in our PMI-ACP® Exam Prep Program. Designed to provide a comprehensive Agile learning experience, this program not only helps you ace the PMI-ACP® exam but also enhances your Agile mindset, leadership skills, and ability to deliver value-driven projects. Ensure exam success and career growth with our expert-led, structured preparation program tailored for Agile professionals.
