PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) Practice Exam

Which method is often used for refining requirements in agile practices?

1. Waterfall analysis

2. Prototyping

3. Benchmarking

4. Risk analysis

The correct answer is: Prototyping

Prototyping is a widely used method for refining requirements in agile practices because it allows teams to create early and iterative versions of a product or feature. This hands-on approach provides stakeholders and users with a tangible representation of what is being built, facilitating feedback and enabling the team to gather insights about user needs and expectations. By allowing users to interact with the prototype, the team can identify pain points, usability issues, and new requirements that weren't previously considered. This iterative cycle of feedback leads to a better understanding of the requirements and can lead to more precise and user-centered final products. Prototyping thus supports agile's core principles of collaboration, adaptability, and delivering value through continuous improvement. In contrast, methods like waterfall analysis involve a sequential process that may not accommodate changes easily as requirements evolve. Benchmarking typically focuses on comparing a process or performance metrics against industry standards, which doesn't directly aid in refining specific product requirements. Similarly, risk analysis is invaluable for identifying potential risks in a project but is not primarily focused on refining requirements themselves. Prototyping stands out as an effective way to enhance clarity around requirements, ultimately resulting in more aligned products with user expectations.