Project Management Methodologies

This article discusses project management methodologies and their role in providing guidelines for effective project management. It compares PMBoK and Waterfall methodologies, highlighting their similarities and differences. The article also explores their relation with Project Life Cycle and their applicability in managerial and development projects.

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Project Management Methodologies
Project Management Methodologies
PMBoK v/s Waterfall
8/3/2018
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Project Management Methodologies
Table of Contents
Methodology: Definition & Role............................................................................................1
PMBoK v/s Waterfall.............................................................................................................2
Set of Similarities....................................................................................................................................2
List of Differences...................................................................................................................................2
Relation with PLC..................................................................................................................3
References..............................................................................................................................4
Methodology: Definition & Role
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Project Management Methodologies
A methodology is defined as a protocol and a set of guidelines that assist in the adequate and
efficient management and execution of the activities. Project management is a discipline that
provides the organization management with the ability to carry out the project tasks and activities
as per the corresponding requirements and best practices. Project management methodologies
provide the guidelines for the implementation of project management discipline.
These methodologies serve a significant role as these provide the Project Manager and leadership
with the ability to manage the project resources, stakeholders, and requirements. These also
provide the best practices that may be followed to resolve the project risks and issues, carry out
effective communication, and handle project schedule, budget, and procurement.
PMBoK v/s Waterfall
There are several project management methodologies that have been defined. Two of the widely
used methodologies are Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) and Waterfall
methodology. These are being utilized and applied in the projects since long.
Set of Similarities
Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) and Waterfall methodology for project
management have been defined to act as guidelines for effective project management (Hau,
2018). These are the predictive methodologies in which the stages or phases that shall be applied
are pre-defined. Both of these methodologies are based on a phased approach that is further
divided in sub-activities and sub-processes. These provide standardization for the projects and
assist in the streamlining of the managerial and project activities (Bassil, 2012).
List of Differences
The set of differences between the two methodologies are illustrated in the table below.
Parameter PMBoK Waterfall Methodology
Phases There are five process groups
that are used and applied to
manage the projects. These
include initiation, planning,
execution, control, and closure
There are six phased defined
by the methodology viz.
Requirements Analysis,
Design, Implementation,
Testing, Deployment, and
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Project Management Methodologies
(Cardona-Meza & Olivar-
Tost, 2017).
Maintenance.
Flexibility More flexible as the sub-
activities in the five process
groups can be altered and
adjusted as per the project
scenario.
Not flexible as the linear
sequential order must always
be maintained under any
circumstance.
Level of Documentation There is no detailed guideline
for the documentation that
shall be included in the
projects.
There is a lot of focus on the
documentation.
Applicability Managerial Projects Development Projects
Relation with PLC
Project Life Cycle (PLC) is a usual timeline that is witnessed in the projects in terms of the set of
activities and their flow. PMBoK and Waterfall methodologies have varying similarity with the
PLC.
Waterfall methodology is closed related and based upon PLC as the flow of phases, level of
flexibility, and the need to maintain the sequential order is common in both the cases. PMBoK
also includes the phases/process groups as planning, execution, control, and closure that are
common with PLC. However, in the case of PMBoK, there are certain variations that may be
made depending upon the project requirements (Humaidi & Said, 2011). It is therefore,
necessary to analyze the project requirements along with the specific scenarios before making
the decision on the selection of the methodology to be used.
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Project Management Methodologies
References
Bassil, Y. (2012). A Simulation Model for the Waterfall Software Development Life Cycle.
Arxiv.org. Retrieved 03 August 2018, from
https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1205/1205.6904.pdf
Cardona-Meza, L., & Olivar-Tost, G. (2017). Modeling and Simulation of Project Management
through the PMBOK® Standard Using Complex Networks. Complexity, 2017, 1-12.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4791635
Hau. (2018). http://www.hau.gr/resources/coe_site/pmbok-08_4thed_changes.pdf. Hau.gr.
Retrieved 03 August 2018, from http://www.hau.gr/resources/coe_site/pmbok-
08_4thed_changes.pdf
Humaidi, N., & Said, N. (2011). The Influence of Project Life Cycle and Key Performance
Indicators in Project Management Performance: Comparison between ICT and
Construction Project. Ipedr.com. Retrieved 03 August 2018, from
http://www.ipedr.com/vol15/6-ICCPM2011A00011.pdf
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