CSM Software Development Lifecycle & Methodologies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the Spiral model of software development, what is the primary activity performed during the first quadrant?
- Identify objectives, alternatives, and constraints (Correct answer)
- Risk analysis and prototype development
- Development and testing of the product
- Plan the next phase based on customer feedback
Correct answer: Identify objectives, alternatives, and constraints
The first quadrant of the Spiral model focuses on determining objectives, identifying alternatives, and defining constraints for the current phase.
Question 2: Which Agile scaling framework uses a 'Program Increment' (PI) as its primary planning timebox?
- LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum)
- SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) (Correct answer)
- Nexus
- Disciplined Agile Delivery
Correct answer: SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)
SAFe uses Program Increments, typically 8–12-week planning windows that align multiple Agile teams around a shared mission.
Question 3: What distinguishes a 'spike' story from a regular user story in Agile development?
- A spike is a high-priority user story assigned to senior developers
- A spike is a time-boxed research task to reduce uncertainty before estimating (Correct answer)
- A spike represents a bug fix that must be resolved before the sprint ends
- A spike is a user story that spans multiple sprints
Correct answer: A spike is a time-boxed research task to reduce uncertainty before estimating
A spike is a time-boxed activity whose goal is to gain knowledge or reduce risk, rather than to produce shippable functionality.
Question 4: In the V-Model (Verification and Validation model), which testing phase directly corresponds to requirements specification?
- Unit Testing
- Integration Testing
- System Testing
- Acceptance Testing (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Acceptance Testing
Acceptance Testing validates the system against the original requirements specification, forming the top-right mirror of the V-Model's left-side requirements phase.
Question 5: Which software development practice involves developers integrating code into a shared repository multiple times per day with automated build and test verification?
- Continuous Delivery
- Continuous Deployment
- Continuous Integration (Correct answer)
- Continuous Monitoring
Correct answer: Continuous Integration
Continuous Integration (CI) requires frequent code commits to a shared repository with automated builds and tests to detect integration errors early.
Question 6: A project team discovers that requirements are highly volatile and the customer wants frequent releases. Which SDLC model is MOST appropriate?
- Waterfall model
- Big Bang model
- Iterative and Incremental model (Correct answer)
- Prototype model
Correct answer: Iterative and Incremental model
Iterative and Incremental models accommodate changing requirements and allow frequent releases by breaking work into smaller, manageable iterations.
Question 7: In Kanban methodology, what is the purpose of setting a Work-in-Progress (WIP) limit?
- To restrict the number of team members who can work simultaneously
- To prevent overloading the system and expose bottlenecks in the workflow (Correct answer)
- To limit the total number of features delivered per quarter
- To cap the budget allocated to active development tasks
Correct answer: To prevent overloading the system and expose bottlenecks in the workflow
WIP limits prevent teams from starting too many tasks at once, making bottlenecks visible and promoting a smoother flow of work.
CSM Software Development Lifecycle & Methodologies 2
In the Spiral model of software development, what is the primary activity performed during the first quadrant?