Project Management Methodologies: Definition, Role, Different Types, and Relation with Project Life Cycle

This article discusses project management methodologies, their definition, role, different types like PMBOK, PRINCE2, SDLC, Waterfall, and Agile, and their relation with project life cycle. It also compares Agile and Waterfall models and highlights their similarities and differences.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES
Project Management Methodologies
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s note

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1. (a) Definition of Methodology
The Project Management Methodology could be defined as the strict combination of
logical practices, processes and methods that would be able to determine the best plan of the
project, development process, and control over the processes within the project. It also
includes the delivery of a sound output throughout the continuous process of implementation
till the successful termination and completion of the final work of the project (Nicholas &
Steyn, 2017). The manager of the project would make use of the proper form of methodology
for achieving certain goals for within the proposed budget of the project. There are several
form of methodologies of project management, which would be very much helpful for the
managers of projects within every stage of the project. The proper form of use of project
management methodology would be easy as it would provide guidance throughout the
completion of the project.
(b) Role of Methodology within Project Management
The methodology would provide a framework for the proper planning, doing of the
tasks within the project and the proper delivery of projects irrespective of size of the project,
nature and type of the project. The framework of the methodology would also be able to
focus on the identification and defining the best form of changes for the better of the project.
The use of methodologies would be of great help for defining the outline of the tasks (Joslin
& Müller, 2015).
2. (a) Different Project Management Methodologies and Processes
Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) – The PMBOK would be able
to describe the theory and the proper learning of the various practices within project
management that would include the formal frameworks of practice. The PMBOK is the
collection of the practices within the project, terminologies, processes and some major

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guidelines, which would be accepted majorly as they are the best standards within the
industry of project management (Rose, 2013).
PRINCE2 – It is abbreviated as Projects IN Controlled Environments. The PRINCE2
is defined as the form of methodology that is primarily based on the processes of projects that
would be extremely helpful for the effective management of the processes within the project.
SDLC – The Software Development Life Cycle could also be termed as Application
Development Life Cycle. This methodology is used within the information systems, systems
engineering and also within the software engineering methodologies.
Waterfall – This model is also referred as the linear-sequential model of life cycle. In
this method, each of the phases is completed before the successful implementation of the
previous steps.
Agile – This form of methodology is a combination of the iterative and the
incremental models of processes that mainly focusses on the aspect of customer satisfaction
with faster delivery of projects.
(b) Comparison of Two Methodologies
Similarities between Agile and Waterfall Model
The Agile methodology would be able to propose the process of separation within the
development processes within the life cycle of the project. On the other hand, the Waterfall
Model divides the entire process into different phases that would be completed in serial
processes (Abrahamsson et al., 2017).
Differences between Agile and Waterfall Model

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The Agile Model provides a very flexible approach for the development of the
project whereas the Waterfall Model follows a structured methodology for the successful
development of the software.
3. Relation of the Methodologies with Project Life Cycle (PLC)
The Agile Methodology follows the iterative process without the use of sequential
process for the development of the project. There are several form of requirements within the
project. The Agile methodology is efficient enough to grip the serious changes that are
occurring within the life cycle of the project. The team concerned for the development of
projects divide the lengthy requirements within the projects into several smaller segments.
This helps in the testing of the smaller phases of projects and thus tests the small phases
efficiently (Burke, 2013).
The Waterfall Methodology mainly focus on the logical progression of the different
steps within the entire project during the successful completion of the project life cycle. The
developers within the project are wholly responsible for the completion of the project and
thus they iterate each of the steps before progressing to the next step of the project. This helps
in minimizing the chances of errors within the project and thus helps in delivering proper
outcomes (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017).

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References
Abrahamsson, P., Salo, O., Ronkainen, J., & Warsta, J. (2017). Agile software development
methods: Review and analysis. arXiv preprint arXiv:1709.08439.
Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and control techniques. New Jersey, USA.
Joslin, R., & Müller, R. (2015). Relationships between a project management methodology
and project success in different project governance contexts. International Journal of
Project Management, 33(6), 1377-1392.
Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Nicholas, J. M., & Steyn, H. (2017). Project management for engineering, business and
technology. Routledge.
Rose, K. H. (2013). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®
Guide)—Fifth Edition. Project management journal, 44(3), e1-e1.