What is the major advantage of the RAD Systems Development Approach over the SDLC Approach?

The major advantage of the Rapid Application Development (RAD) systems development approach over the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) approach is that it does not need to be carried out sequentially. This flexibility allows for overlapping phases, which means that different parts of the system can be developed simultaneously rather than following a strict, linear progression.

In RAD, user feedback is incorporated throughout the development process, enabling developers to make necessary adjustments and improvements in real-time. This iterative nature helps in quickly adapting to changes and reduces the time needed to deliver a functional product. As a result, RAD often leads to faster development cycles, which is a significant benefit for organizations that need to respond quickly to market demands or changing requirements.

In contrast, the SDLC is characterized by its structured and sequential phases, where each phase must be completed before the next begins. This rigidity can potentially slow down the development process, especially if changes need to be implemented after initial requirements have been established.

The other options focus on aspects like planning and resource utilization that are not central to the core advantage of RAD being iterative and non-sequential, making the primary benefit of flexibility in the development process more notable.