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5 - PROJECT SCOPE MANAGEMENT

5.4.2.5 Rolling Wave Planning for Adaptive Life Cycle Projects

The scope of an adaptive life cycle software project can be progressively elaborated in a rolling wave manner,
as illustrated in Figure 5-5, which is the equivalent of a rolling wave WBS. The small “boxes” in each quarter
(Q1 – Q4) are feature sets at the top level with increments of functionality for the features sets in the subordinate
levels. As indicated, the feature sets and increments of functionality are progressively elaborated during planning
for subsequent quarters of calendar time.

As stated in conjunction with Figure 5-2 of this Software Extension, it may be possible to specify an initial
release plan during the planning process for an adaptive software project. In other cases, the release plan may
evolve in a rolling wave manner. The elaboration in Figure 5-4 may have been developed initially or as a rolling
wave elaboration across the quarters. This form of elaboration and presentation could also be used for a predictive
life cycle software project that develops the product in deliverable increments of functionality (called feature sets
in Figure 5.5).

DETAILED PLANNING FOR THE NEXT QUARTER

Q4 Q4
Plan Plan

Q3 Q3 Q4
Plan Plan Plan

Q2 Q2 Q3 Q4
Plan Plan Plan Plan

Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature Feature
Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4
Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1 Incr. 1
Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2 Incr. 2
Incr. 3 Incr. 3 Incr. 3 Incr. 3 Incr. 3 Incr. 3 Incr. 3 Incr. 3 Incr. 3
Incr. 4 Incr. 4 Incr. 4 Incr. 4 Incr. 4 Incr. 4

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Time

Figure 5-5. Rolling Wave Elaboration of an Adaptive Life Cycle Software Project

78 ©2013 Project Management Institute. Software Extension to the PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition
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