In which of the following phases of system development life cycle (SDLC) is contingency planning most
important?

A.
Initiation

B.
Development/acquisition

C.
Implementation

D.
Operation/maintenance

Explanation:
The system development life cycle (SDLC) is the process of developing an information system. The SDLC
includes the Initiation, Development and Acquisition, Implementation, Operation and Maintenance and Disposal
phases.
The initiation phase includes determining the system’s goals and feasibility. The systems feasibility includes its
system requirements and how well they match with operational processes. The requirements of a contingency
plan should be analyzed based on the system’s requirements and design.
Incorrect Answers:
B: Contingency planning is most important in the initiation phase, not the Development/acquisition phase. It is
important to create a contingency plan in the earliest possible stage of a project.
C: Contingency planning is most important in the initiation phase, not the Implementation phase. The
contingency plan should be created before the system is implemented.
D: Contingency planning is most important in the initiation phase, not the operation/maintenance phase. It is
important to create a contingency plan in the earliest possible stage of a project, not after the system has been
deployed.

EC-Council, Disaster Recovery, Cengage Learning, Andover, 2010, pp 4-11