HKSM
Predictive Life Cycle
An approach to managing a project where scope, schedule, and budget are defined and baselined early in the effort, and the work then proceeds according to that plan.
Key Points
- Scope, time, and cost are set early and used as baselines.
- Work follows a planned, sequential path through phases.
- Best suited when requirements are stable and well understood.
- Changes are tightly controlled through formal change management.
Example
A municipality commissions a fixed-price contract to build a bridge. The design, timeline, and budget are finalized upfront, and construction proceeds through defined stages (design, procurement, build, test) with formal approvals for any changes.
PMP Example Question
A project has clear, stable requirements and a mandated fixed budget and deadline. The manager wants to lock scope, schedule, and cost early and control changes strictly. Which life cycle is most appropriate?
- Predictive life cycle
- Iterative life cycle
- Incremental life cycle
- Agile (adaptive) life cycle
Correct Answer: A — Predictive life cycle
Explanation: Predictive planning establishes scope, schedule, and cost early and manages the work against these baselines, which fits stable requirements and fixed constraints.
