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Platform Lifecycle and Deployment Architect Exam Prep - Application Lifecycle Management

9 min read

Application Lifecycle Management consists of 8% of total score in Salesforce Platform Lifecycle and Deployment Architect Exam. The topic covers ALM, development methodologies, and governance strategies.

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📘 Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) & Methodologies

🔄 What is ALM?

  • ALM = managing the entire life of an application → from ✍️ design → 💻 development → 🧪 testing → 🚀 release → 🔧 maintenance.
  • Provides a framework for bug fixes, enhancements, and smooth delivery.
  • Stages:
    1️⃣ Plan Release
    2️⃣ Develop
    3️⃣ Test
    4️⃣ Build Release
    5️⃣ Test Release
    6️⃣ Release

✨ Benefits:
✅ Efficiency & productivity
✅ Avoids defects (quality assurance)
✅ Predictable & consistent releases
✅ Faster delivery
✅ Lower cost
✅ Long-term stability & maintenance

⚙️ Development Methodologies

💧 Waterfall

  • 📏 Linear steps → each must finish before next.
  • Good for: stable requirements, compliance-heavy projects, fixed deadlines.
  • Pros: predictable cost/time, strong docs, structured process.
  • Risks: ❌ inflexible, ❌ little feedback, ❌ slow to adapt, ❌ risk of dissatisfaction.
  • Governance:
    • 📋 Change Control Board (CCB)
    • 📅 Milestone reviews

⚡ Agile

  • 🔄 Iterative, flexible approach (sprints = 2–4 weeks).
  • Requirements evolve → continuous delivery & stakeholder input.
  • Pros: adaptability, collaboration, early value delivery.
  • Risks: ⚠️ scope creep, ⚠️ quality trade-offs, ⚠️ integration challenges, ⚠️ weak docs.
  • Governance:
    • 🗂 Backlog prioritization
    • 📣 Daily stand-ups
    • 🔍 Sprint reviews & retrospectives

🏉 Scrum (Agile framework)

  • Core values: 💪 Commitment, 🦁 Courage, 🎯 Focus, 🔓 Openness, 🙏 Respect
  • Roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, Dev Team
  • Meetings: planning, daily stand-ups, reviews, retrospectives
  • Artifacts: backlog, sprint backlog, burndown chart, increments

🍃 Lean (Agile framework)

  • ✂️ Eliminate waste, ♻️ continuous improvement, 📈 efficiency + quality
  • Principles: Identify value → Map value stream → Create flow → Establish pull → Seek perfection

📋 Kanban (Agile framework)

  • 👀 Visual board → cards flow left → right
  • 🔢 WIP limits → avoid overload
  • ⏱ Metrics: cycle time & throughput
  • Flexible → embraces small, incremental changes

🔀 Hybrid

  • 🧩 Mix of Waterfall (structure, upfront docs) + Agile (flexibility, feedback)
  • Good for: complex integrations, mid-sized companies balancing old & new.
  • Risks: ⚠️ confusing rules, ⚠️ high overhead, ⚠️ resource strain.
  • Mitigation: 🎓 training, 📢 clear scope, ⛳ phase-gate reviews

🛡 Governance Strategies

Governance = structure to control changes, align priorities, ensure security/compliance.

  • Waterfall: CCB + Milestone reviews
  • Agile: backlog priority, daily stand-ups, sprint ceremonies
  • Benefits: ✅ efficiency, ✅ transparency, ✅ compliance, ✅ resource optimization

🏢 Case Scenarios & Solutions

1️⃣ Enterprise Client (regulated)

  • Needs: stable scope, fixed deadline, compliance docs.
  • ✅ Solution: Waterfall (structured, documentation-heavy).
  • ⚠️ Risks: late change inflexibility → mitigate with strong upfront requirements + milestone reviews.

2️⃣ E-Commerce Startup (fast-paced)

  • Needs: evolving requirements, frequent updates, flexibility.
  • ✅ Solution: Agile (iterative, incremental delivery, user feedback).
  • ⚠️ Risks: scope creep & weak planning → mitigate with backlog prioritization + sprint discipline.

3️⃣ Retail Company (mid-sized)

  • Needs: integration + customization, balance of structure & adaptability.
  • ✅ Solution: Hybrid (Waterfall for integration + Agile for custom features).
  • ⚠️ Risks: confusion & resource strain → mitigate with training, clear rules, phase-gate reviews.

4️⃣ Healthcare Provider (values-driven)

  • Needs: patient-first culture, respect, openness; new to Agile but curious.
  • ✅ Solution: Scrum (values align perfectly).
  • ⚠️ Risks: new to iteration & transparency → mitigate with training, team-building, focus on sprint goals.

📊 Development Methodologies Cheat Sheet

🚀 Methodology🌟 Pros⚠️ Risks🛡 Governance🎯 Best Fit
💧 Waterfall✅ Clear structure
✅ Strong docs
✅ Predictable		❌ No flexibility
❌ Low feedback
❌ Risk of mismatch		📋 Change Control Board
📅 Milestone reviews		🏢 Regulated industries
📑 Fixed scope & deadline
⚡ Agile🔄 Iterative
🤝 Collab focus
🚚 Fast delivery		⚠️ Scope creep
⚠️ Weak docs
⚠️ Quality trade-offs		🗂 Backlog priority<br📣 Daily stand-ups
🔍 Sprint reviews		🚀 Startups
🔄 Rapid change
💬 Frequent feedback
🏉 Scrum⏱ 2–4 wk sprints
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Clear roles
💡 Values-driven (Commitment, Courage, Focus, Openness, Respect)		❌ Needs full engagement
❌ Culture resistance
❌ Focus drift		🗓 Sprint ceremonies
📊 Backlogs & charts
🔁 Retrospectives		❤️ Value-driven orgs
🏥 Healthcare / team focus
🔄 Iterative projects
🍃 Lean✂️ Cut waste
📈 Efficient use
♻️ Continuous improve		⚠️ Risk of under-planning
⚠️ Slow decisions		🗺 Value mapping
📚 Learning loops		🏭 Efficiency seekers
💡 Process improvement
📋 Kanban👀 Visual board
🔢 WIP limits
📊 Metrics (cycle/throughput)		❌ Bottlenecks
❌ Less structure		📊 Track metrics
🧮 WIP discipline		🔧 Ops/support teams
📈 Incremental change
🔀 Hybrid🧩 Structured + Flexible
🛡 Early risk detect
🗓 Iterative feedback		⚠️ Confusion risk
⚠️ High overhead
⚠️ Diluted benefits		🎓 Training
📢 Clear rules
⛳ Phase-gates		🛒 Mid-size orgs
🔌 Complex integrations
⚖️ Balance need

🎯 Key Takeaways

  • 💧 Waterfall = 📑 Stability + Compliance-heavy projects
  • ⚡ Agile = 🚀 Speed + Flexibility + Frequent feedback
  • 🔀 Hybrid = ⚖️ Balance + Complex integrations
  • 🏉 Scrum = ❤️ Values-driven teams
  • 🍃 Lean = ✂️ Efficiency + Waste reduction
  • 📋 Kanban = 👀 Flow + Incremental improvements

📈 Flow Charts

flowchart TD
  A([🚀 Start: Pick Methodology]) --> B{🧭 Stable Requirements?}
  B -- Yes --> C{🧾 Heavy Compliance?}
  C -- Yes --> W[💧 WATERFALL<br/>Structured, docs, predictable]
  C -- No --> D{🧩 Complex Integrations?}
  D -- Yes --> H[🔀 HYBRID<br/>Plan upfront + iterate features]
  D -- No --> W

  B -- No --> E{⚡ Need Speed & Flexibility?}
  E -- Yes --> F{🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Stakeholders Available?}
  F -- Yes --> G{❤️ Culture fits Scrum values?}
  G -- Yes --> S[🏉 SCRUM<br/>2–4wk sprints, roles, ceremonies]
  G -- No --> I{🔧 Work Type?}
  I -- Flow/Support --> K[📋 KANBAN<br/>Visual WIP, continuous flow]
  I -- Project/Features --> AGL[⚡ AGILE<br/>Iterative delivery, evolving scope]

  F -- No --> K

  E -- No --> D

  %% Efficiency path
  A --> L{✂️ Focus on Efficiency?}
  L -- Yes --> LEAN[🍃 LEAN<br/>Waste cut, value stream, Kaizen]
  L -- No --> B

📚 Flashcards

🧭 Scenario Cards

🧪 Quick Check Mixers

Recent Notes

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