IPA IP 2020 Question 37
A question IPA Japan published in 令和2年度 10月 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問37, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
The software to be developed is divided beforehand into small units of function that can be developed in a relatively short period, and the software is completed by repeatedly releasing each function every time its development is finished. Which of the following is the development method that focuses on being able to respond quickly to changes in the business environment and requests from users, by reviewing the priority and the content of the function to be developed next when the development of one function is finished?
Explanation
Agile — development in short cycles of small functions, each released when done, with priorities reviewed after each to respond quickly to change.
Agile development splits the software into small functions that can be built in a short period (an iteration or sprint, typically one to a few weeks). Each function is designed, built, tested and released in its cycle, and at the end of the cycle the team and users review what to build next and in what order. Working software and the ability to respond to changing business needs and user requests come first, rather than a fixed plan and detailed documents.
Answer (a)
Why not others:
- •(b) Waterfall — the phases (requirements, design, programming, testing) run once in order for the whole system, which is released at the end; changes late in the project are costly
- •(c) Structured — structured analysis and design break a system's functions down top-down into a hierarchy of modules; it is a design technique, not a cycle of releases
- •(d) Reverse engineering — analyses existing software to recover its specifications or design, for example to document it for maintenance
Key rule: Short iterations, frequent releases and reprioritising after each one mark agile; one pass through the phases with a single release marks waterfall.
Software Development Management Techniques · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.