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Agile vs Plan-Driven — Key Distinction

publish date: 2026/06/02 10:35:28.713457 UTC

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What is the key distinction between how agile methods and plan-driven methods minimise documentation?

Agile methods minimise documentation by using informal communications rather than formal meetings with written documents; plan-driven methods use formal documents to communicate between stages

Agile methods produce no documentation at all; plan-driven methods produce complete documentation

Plan-driven methods minimise documentation; agile methods maximise it

Agile methods use automated tools to generate all documentation; plan-driven methods require manual documentation

Correct Answer

Agile methods minimise documentation by using informal communications rather than formal meetings with written documents; plan-driven methods use formal documents to communicate between stages

Explanation

Agile methods minimise documentation by using informal communications rather than formal meetings with written documents. By contrast, plan-driven processes use formal documents to communicate between stages — in a plan-driven approach, iteration occurs within activities and formal documents are used to communicate between stages.

Reference

Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 9th edition

Quizzes you can take where this question appears

Agile Methods — Agile Manifesto & Principles