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2 - PROJECT LIFE CYCLE AND ORGANIZATION

customer to receive early delivery of working product increments, when desired. The extent of product
scope included in the increments may vary from increment to increment. The duration of incremental
phases also varies widely among software projects. Some projects include plans for fewer increments,
each to be completed over a longer time frame, while other projects plan more increments, each of a 2
shorter duration.

An example of incremental product development is illustrated in Figure 2-4. The product features have been
prioritized and partitioned into four feature sets that are to be built in successive increments. The features and feature
sets were prioritized during preceding analysis and architect phases and are prioritized based on predetermined
prioritization criteria (for example, construct foundation software first has the highest priority, followed by construct
most critical software elements first, construct the user interface software first, etc.). Prioritization of features and
features sets is determined in part by noting that the features implement first will be tested and demonstrated

Analyze

Architect

Demo
Feature Design Test Working
Set 1 Construct & Product
Integrate
V1

Demo
Feature Design Test Working
Set 2 Construct & Product
Integrate
V1+V2

Demo
Feature Design Working
Set 3 Construct & Test Product
Integrate V1+V2+V3

Demo
Feature Design Working
Set 4 Construct & Test Product
Integrate
V1+V2+V3+V4

Time

Figure 2-4. Incremental Software Product Development

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