Final answer:
Adaptive life cycles, exemplified by agile methodologies like the spiral design process, are focused on iterative refinement, allowing for continuous improvement in design and development. They require careful planning to manage resources effectively. Incremental design is part of this approach, with design progressing through modifications or enhancements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adaptive life cycles are agile, iterative, or incremental. The detailed scope is defined and approved before the start of an iteration. These life cycles allow for rapid adjustments throughout the development process which is beneficial in environments where requirements may evolve or be uncertain. The spiral design process is a prime example of an adaptive or agile methodology. It focuses on iterative refinement through a cyclic process of prototyping, testing, and refinement. This process emphasizes continuous improvement and can result in a superior final product but requires careful management of time and resources to prevent budget overruns and delays.
Incremental design is a strategy whereby the design evolves by modifying an existing product or process or by adding new components incrementally. This method is opposed to a sequential or waterfall approach where each phase must be completed before the next begins. The iterative nature of adaptive or spiral design processes allows for a more flexible and responsive approach to development, catering to a project's dynamic nature through continuous refinement.