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Agile Methods and Critical Systems

publish date: 2026/06/04 04:30:8.612564 UTC

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Why do agile methods require significant modification before they can be routinely used for critical systems engineering?

Because agile methods cannot produce any form of documentation required by safety standards

Because critical systems are always developed by government agencies that prohibit agile methods

Because the need for security, safety, and dependability analysis in critical systems requires more rigorous approaches than standard agile methods provide

Because critical systems always have very small teams that cannot adopt agile practices

Correct Answer

Because the need for security, safety, and dependability analysis in critical systems requires more rigorous approaches than standard agile methods provide

Explanation

While there have been experiments in using agile approaches for critical systems engineering, the need for security, safety, and dependability analysis in critical systems means that agile methods require significant modification before they can be routinely used in this domain. The informal, documentation-light nature of agile methods conflicts with the rigorous analysis critical systems demand.

Reference

Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 9th edition

Quizzes you can take where this question appears

Agile Methods — Problems & Limitations