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5 - PROJECT SCOPE MANAGEMENT

5.1.1.5 Release Planning for Planning Scope Management

Release planning for a software project can also provide an input for Plan Scope Management of a software project.
As shown in Figure 5-2, the product scope for a software project can be specified as a sequence of feature sets (i.e.,
requirements) specified during project initiation and planning. Each feature set is developed as deliverable software
that can be released for demonstration to external stakeholders, and released into the user environment, when
desired. The product increments in each feature set can be developed and demonstrated to internal stakeholders and
to external stakeholders, when planned or desired. Planning the features sets provides an input for planning scope
management. For predictive life cycle projects, the increments for each feature set may also be planned initially.

For adaptive life cycle software projects, the number and content of the feature sets are typically specified during
project initiation and planning. The number and content of increments for each feature set are typically planned as
the project evolves, but the number and content of both feature sets and increments may be adjusted as the project
evolves. The release plan may evolve in a rolling wave manner, as described in Section 5.4.2.5 of this Software
Extension, which includes another example of planning feature sets for adaptive life cycle software projects.
Also note, in Figure 5-2, that the number of increments may differ for different feature sets for both predictive
and adaptive software project life cycles. Development of each increment many involve multiple iteration cycles, in

Software
Product

Initiating and Feature Set Feature Set Feature Set
Planning 1 1+2 1+2+3

Increment Increment Increment
1–2 2–3 3–2

Increment Increment Increment
1–1 2–2 3–1

Increment Feature Set
2–1 1+2

Feature Set
1

Figure 5-2. Release Planning for an Adaptive Software Project Life Cycle

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