PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) Practice Exam

What is an 'epic' in Agile methodology?

1. A small, simple task

2. A very large story that spans iterations

3. A completed project deliverable

4. A phase in the project lifecycle

The correct answer is: A very large story that spans iterations

In Agile methodology, an 'epic' refers to a very large user story that typically spans across multiple iterations or sprints. It represents a high-level requirement or objective that can be broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces called user stories or tasks. This decomposition into smaller elements not only makes the work more digestible but also allows teams to focus on delivering incremental value throughout the project. Epics are useful for providing a broader context for stakeholders and team members regarding the overarching goals of the project. They are often used in the early stages of planning to capture significant features or capabilities that will need to be delivered, thus serving as a roadmap for future iterations. While the other options describe aspects relevant to project work, they do not accurately characterize the concept of an epic in Agile. For example, a small, simple task does not encapsulate the comprehensive nature of an epic, and a completed project deliverable refers to a finished output rather than a large body of work in progress. Similarly, a phase in the project lifecycle is a temporal element rather than a product backlog item, which is substantial and spans iterations.