Final answer:
A conventional project life cycle is represented by an S-shaped curve, mirroring initial slow growth, rapid progression, and eventual leveling off as the project nears completion. Option A is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question “A conventional project life cycle is a(n) __________ curve” is a) S-shaped. This is because a conventional project typically goes through stages that resemble an S-shaped curve. Initially, there is a period of slow growth as the project is getting started, and resources are being organized.
Then, as work commences and progresses, the project experiences a period of rapid growth. Eventually, as the project nears completion and there is less development or production to occur, the growth rate slows down again.
This results in an overall S-shaped curve, which is also similar to logistic growth curves observed in biology when considering population growth in relation to environmental carrying capacity.