CAPM Practice Exam Question

A project team is developing a new software application, and they want to identify and manage risks throughout the project. The project manager suggests using risk-based spike stories as part of the team’s approach to handle high-priority risks early in the project. Which of the following best describes the purpose of using risk-based spike stories?

A) To delay high-risk work until the team has more information from completed iterations.

B) To focus solely on user requirements before addressing technical risks.

C) To allocate time in the backlog for researching or prototyping solutions to high-priority risks.

D) To assign additional team members to high-risk tasks, ensuring they are completed quickly.

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Best Answer:

C. To allocate time in the backlog for researching or prototyping solutions to high-priority risks.

Explanation:

Risk-based spike stories are a specific type of story in Agile that allocates time within the sprint or backlog to address high-priority risks through research, prototyping, or investigation. The purpose of these spike stories is to help the team better understand a potential risk area by experimenting or conducting research before committing to full-scale development. This proactive approach allows the team to reduce uncertainty and make informed decisions, ultimately helping to prevent future issues related to these risks.

For instance, if the team anticipates challenges with integrating a complex third-party API, they may create a spike story dedicated to testing that integration early in the project. By tackling this high-priority risk upfront, the team gains valuable insights and reduces the chance of integration problems arising later.

Option A is incorrect because delaying high-risk work until later contradicts the purpose of risk-based spike stories, which are designed to address these risks early in the project lifecycle. Agile practices encourage addressing high-impact risks as soon as they are identified, not postponing them.

Option B is not correct because risk-based spike stories are not limited to user requirements; they often involve technical risks or other uncertainties. Agile teams aim to balance functional and technical aspects to minimize project risk effectively.

Option D is incorrect because assigning additional team members to high-risk tasks does not necessarily address the underlying uncertainties or knowledge gaps that risk-based spike stories aim to resolve. Spike stories focus on exploration and experimentation rather than simply accelerating task completion.

Therefore, C. To allocate time in the backlog for researching or prototyping solutions to high-priority risks is the best answer. This option accurately reflects the purpose of risk-based spike stories, which is to allow Agile teams to investigate and reduce high-priority risks early in the project, supporting a smoother, more predictable development process.