Elaborative Iterations
From Mp
Contents |
Pattern Type
Practice
This pattern is a practice pattern, since it defines how work is broken up within an existing structured pattern. It defines the approach to dividing chunks of work based upon a time line.
Description
There are a number of different types of "iterations." See Iteration for an explanation of what it is. Elaborative iterations are merely variable-length (see Variable-Length Iterations) or fixed-length (see Lifecycle Time-Boxed Iterations) iterations that do not follow the entire lifecycle (meaning, they may not include all aspects of The Core Process). They are "elaborative" because they are meant to take a work package and expand the level of detail. For example, multiple elaborative iterations can be used to take a high-level architectural document to a low-level design document containing detailed UML diagrams. Elaborative iterations are not typically used to actually build software (i.e. write the code), though they may be if development begins in a prototypical state and moves closer and closer to "fully fleshed-out."
