Project Management: Definition, Methodologies, and Comparison

This article discusses project management definition, methodologies, and a comparison between Agile and PMBOK methodology. It also explains the relation of PMBOK to project life cycle. The article provides insights into the importance of selecting the appropriate project management methodology for ensuring project success and delivery.

Running Head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
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[PROJECT MANAGEMENT]
[Author]
[Institution]

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Table of contents
1. Project Management Definition and its role.........................................................................3
2. Comparison between Agile and PMBOK methodology......................................................4
3. Relation of PMBOK to project life cycle................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

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1. Project Management Definition and its role
Project methodology refers to the five different phases or processes of the project
management which includes define, plan, launch, manage and close. Each phase defines the
particular aspect of managing a project for accomplishing the objectives. According to the
Project Management Institute (PMI), project management includes the implication of knowledge,
skills, tools, and techniques via project methodologies to the various project activities for
meeting the needs and expectations of project stakeholder. Selection and application of project
management methods are quite crucial for the project holders for ensuring its success and
delivery. According to the Solomon and et.al., (2015), “There are many different and
overlapping approaches are available to manage the complexities of a project. Thus, selection of
the appropriate and most suitable project management methodology is the first step of the team
towards the success”.
On the other hand Flick, (2015), has stated that “Among the various project
methodologies, SCRUM approach is an effective methodology which is developed for
improving, enhancing and maintaining the existing system or production prototype”. This project
methodology is used by the top software organizations for minimizing the risk factor and
finishing the projects in a structured manner. As per the view of Chin and Spowage (2010),
project management specific methodologies are developed for meeting the strategy, structure,
nature of a project along with the requirements and desires of the company. For example, L3
methodology helps a firm in integrating the processes of the project with its different business
systems. On the other hand, Landry and McDaniel, (2015), has suggested that Use of right
Project Management Methodologies increase the probability of finishing a project on time within
the decided budget which results to deliver the product to the client on time and increases their
satisfaction level. Selection of appropriate project methodologies makes team to spend less time
on deciding the structure and managing the project which results to give more time to
accomplish the project objectives and deliverables in an effective way.
Thus, project management methodologies ensure that expectations regarding the project
should be delivered on time and in a decided manner. With the help of methodology, team
members are able to tackle there projects comprehensively and systematically for handling the
risks. Strategic, tactical and operational benefits are also provided by the project management

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methodologies. It assesses the risks and various difficulties large and complex projects posses
and places the right strategy for minimizing them.
2. Comparison between Agile and PMBOK methodology
As per the PMBOK, traditional project management includes well-defined process
groups which guide project team members with the help of each process group’s knowledge and
skill areas. The process groups of traditional project management method are an initiation,
planning, execution, monitoring and control, and end. On the other hand, agile methodology
describes the values and principles with respect to the software development and help team
members in meeting the needs of the project. It provides continuous iteration in the field of
development and testing throughout the life cycle of software development.
Similarities:
Both the method provides set of tools and techniques to the companies for managing their
projects and avoiding the requirement of reinvention. Along with this, both agile and traditional
methodology aims at tackling the common problems and project characteristics which are:
accelerated change, delineated timescales, limitations on the resources and budget and new or
unique deliverables. Both the methods provide an opportunity to minimize the risks by
suggesting appropriate strategy or solution (Thiemich and Puhlmann, 2013).
Differences:
 The methodology of PMBOK provides more and effective guidance regarding the tools
to be used such as earned value analysis, three-point estimates, information gathering
techniques and stakeholder matrices. On the other hand, Agile offers completely different
techniques and formula.
 PMBOK pays attention to the importance of planning like Plan, Act, Check and Do of
Deming and Observe, Orient, Decide and Act on Boyd’s. On the other hand, Agile
methodology works on the basis of assumptions like deliverables can be complex or
unknowable to be planned in the beginning.

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 The project structure suggested by the Agile methodology is less formal providing an
iterative process of short development cycle whereas PMBOK offers effective project
structure with different processes.
 From above both the methodologies, PMBOK is more suitable than the Agile in terms of
offering structured and comprehensive methodologies. It provides scrupulous planning,
rigorous project control, clearly defined roles, emphasis on communication and clear
deliverables.
3. Relation of PMBOK to project life cycle
The project life cycle includes the following phases:
Initiation: In this step, PMBOK will help in the documentation of the business case, feasibility
study of the project, setting up a project office and appointing the suitable team.
Planning: Different methods and technologies like earned value analysis, three-point estimates,
information gathering techniques and stakeholder matrices of the PMBOK will be used in this
step for developing a financial plan, quality plan, project plan and communication plan
(Karaman and Kurt, 2015).
Execution: This step of the project lifecycle includes the building of deliverables, controlling the
project scope, costs, quality, risks, and issues. In context to this, PMBOK methodology will help
team members in handling the risks via right solution which will lead to control the cost, scope,
and delivery of the project.
Closure: Selection of PMBOK helps in closing the project on time by utilizing the decided
amount of resources and money. Delivery of project of time results to increase customer
satisfaction. Reviews and feedbacks from the clients can help organizations in improving their
project quality as per the customer need if needed.
Thus, from the above study, it is clear that PMBOK methodology is more appropriate
from the Agile methodology for handling the projects effectively.

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REFERENCES
Chin, C. M. M. & Spowage, A. C. (2010). Defining & classifying project management
methodologies. PM World Today, XII (V).
Flick, U. (2015). Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Karaman, E., & Kurt, M. (2015). Comparison of project management methodologies: prince 2
versus PMBOK for it projects. Int. Journal of Applied Sciences and Engineering
Research, 4(5), 657-664.
Landry, J. P., & McDaniel, R. (2015). Agile Preparation Within a Traditional Project
Management Course. In Proceedings of the EDSIG Conference (p. n3429).
Project Management Institute.(2013). A guide to the project management body of knowledge
(PMBOK guide) (5th ed.). Newtown Square, PA: Author
Solomon, A. W., Pavluck, A. L., Courtright, P., Aboe, A., Adamu, L., Alemayehu, W., ... &
Brooker, S. J. (2015). The Global Trachoma Mapping Project: methodology of a 34-
country population-based study. Ophthalmic epidemiology, 22(3), 214-225.
Thiemich, C., & Puhlmann, F. (2013). An agile BPM project methodology. In Business Process
Management (pp. 291-306). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.