Which project management framework incurs extremely high costs when later changes are implemented?

The Waterfall project management framework is characterized by its linear and sequential approach. In this framework, each phase must be completed before the next one begins, and changes to the project scope or requirements during later phases can be extremely costly. This is primarily because any alteration requires revisiting and potentially redoing significant portions of the completed work, which can lead to delays, increased resource allocation, and budget overruns.

In contrast, Agile and Extreme Programming (XP) frameworks are specifically designed to accommodate changes even late in the development process. These methodologies promote iterative development and continuous feedback, allowing teams to adapt to new information or changing requirements more fluidly. DevOps, while it focuses on collaboration between development and operations, also supports continuous integration and delivery, fostering an environment where changes can be made more readily without incurring significant costs.

Thus, the nature of the Waterfall approach makes it particularly vulnerable to high costs associated with late changes, since its rigid structure does not allow for easy modification once the project is underway.