Incremental Life Cycle
An incremental life cycle is an approach where the deliverable is produced through a series of iterations that successively add functionality within a predetermined time frame.
Explanation
In an incremental life cycle, the project delivers the product in pieces (increments), with each increment adding new, usable functionality. The customer receives value early and often because each increment produces a working subset of the final product. This contrasts with a purely predictive approach where no deliverable is available until the end of the project.
For example, a software project might deliver user authentication in the first increment, reporting features in the second, and administrative functions in the third. Each increment is planned, built, tested, and delivered independently, but all increments work together as part of the complete solution.
The incremental approach reduces risk by delivering value early, which allows stakeholders to provide feedback and the team to course-correct. It also makes projects easier to fund incrementally and allows organizations to realize benefits sooner. The scope of each increment is typically defined upfront, distinguishing this approach from a fully adaptive life cycle where scope emerges over time.
Key Points
- •Delivers the product in successive, usable pieces
- •Each increment adds new functionality to the existing deliverable
- •Stakeholders receive value early and can provide feedback
- •Reduces risk compared to a single, end-of-project delivery
Exam Tip
Think of incremental as "add a piece at a time." If the exam describes delivering functional portions of the product in stages, with each stage being usable, it is an incremental life cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Iterative Life Cycle
An iterative life cycle is an approach where the project scope is generally determined early, but time and cost estimates are routinely modified as understanding increases through repeated cycles of work.
Adaptive Life Cycle
An adaptive life cycle is a change-driven approach that is both iterative and incremental, where the detailed scope is defined and approved before the start of each iteration.
Project Life Cycle
The project life cycle is the series of phases that a project passes through from its start to its completion.
Deliverables
A deliverable is any unique and verifiable product, result, or capability to produce a service that is required to be produced to complete a process, phase, or project.
Most-studied PMP concepts
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Predictive Life Cycle (Waterfall)
A predictive life cycle is a plan-driven approach where the project scope, schedule, and cost are determined early and changes are carefully managed.
Subsidiary Plans
Subsidiary plans are the individual management plans that are components of the overall project management plan, each addressing a specific Knowledge Area or management function.
Burndown Chart
A Burndown Chart is a graphical representation of work remaining versus time in a Sprint or release, showing whether the team is on track to complete the planned work.
Resource Leveling
Resource leveling is a resource optimization technique in which adjustments are made to the project schedule to keep resource usage at or below a defined limit, often resulting in a longer project duration.
Risk Register
The risk register is a project document that records the details of individual project risks, including their identification, analysis results, response plans, and current status.
Stakeholder Mapping
Stakeholder mapping is the visual representation of stakeholder relationships, influence, interest, or other attributes using grids, matrices, or diagrams to support analysis and engagement planning.
Relative Estimation
Relative Estimation is an agile technique where work items are sized in comparison to each other rather than in absolute units like hours or days, providing faster and more accurate estimates.
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
Cost Performance Index (CPI) is an EVM efficiency metric that measures cost performance as the ratio of earned value to actual cost: CPI = EV / AC.
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is an EVM efficiency metric that measures schedule performance as the ratio of earned value to planned value: SPI = EV / PV.
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