Exploring Project Management Methodologies

The assignment delves into a comparative analysis of diverse project management methodologies. It covers traditional approaches like Waterfall, as well as agile methodologies such as Scrum. Additionally, it examines process-based frameworks like Lean Six Sigma and discusses their suitability for different project types based on objectives, goals, and deliverables. The paper encourages students to reflect on the selection criteria for choosing the most appropriate methodology and emphasizes the potential for hybrid approaches.

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Project Management Methodologies
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PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES
Project Management Methodologies
Project management methodology is the process of combining all interrelated practices,
techniques, and procedure that will help in determining how to best plan, control, develop and
deliver a given project from the time it kicks off, through its implementation phases till the
project is ended (Shtub & Rosenwein, 2016). There are so many project management
methodologies that are in use. In this paper, I am going to group them with the order of how
popular a method is and how similar it is to other methods.
Traditional Methodologies
Waterfall – This is the simplest method to follow while carrying out a project especially
where physical deliverables are required. Here, all tasks are planned way before the project
starts, and one job has to be completed before going to the next one.
Critical Path Method commonly referred to as CPM – The method directly takes into
account that there are specific tasks that are very critical to a project and that means before
they are completed, the project cannot go on (Radcliffe, Kawal & Stephenson, 1972).
PMI – This is the set procedure for doing project set by Project Management Institute. It
breaks the project into five steps which are globally agreed upon. However, some scholars
argue that PMI is more of a standard than a project management methodology.
Agile Methodologies
In all the methods that fall under this class, step by step deliverables are agreed upon between the
project developers and the customer. These requirements can be altered along the way, and that
might mean that at the end of the project, all customer needs will be met (Rasnacis & Berzisa,
2017).

PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES
Scrum – This is an agile process where developers in a small team led by a supervisor whose
role is to clear any problematic issues that might crop up during the development process
(Saleh, 2015). The supervisor meets with the team every day where they report their progress
and areas they have any challenges.
Kanban – Originally, this technique was employed by Toyota. Here, project teams create
visual representations of the task they are required to complete using sticky notes and
whiteboards. These visual images are then counterchecked against a predetermined
procedure for progress and possible project obstacles.
Extreme Programming – Here the project is divided into small sprints, repeated interactions
and working together with all the participants. A requirement can be changed at the next
sprint and some work in progress can be replaced by a more urgent sprint.
APF – Adaptive Project Framework starts with the development of a breakdown structure of
the requirements (Wysocki, 2010). The whole project is divided into stages, and at every end
of stage, an evaluation is done and even the customers are given a chance to give their
suggestion on how to improve the next step.
Change management Methodologies
Event chain methodology – This technique take into consideration the possibilities of events
outside the project occurring and affecting the progress, development and even the successful
completion of the project.
Extreme Project management – Here, one can alter the project at any stages. You can
change the project scope, its budget and finally have a completely different outcome. These
changes are necessary to take care of business changing needs.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES
Process-based methodologies
These are methodologies that make sure that the objectives of conducting a project are well in
line with the mission and long-term goals of an organization (Alok, 2016). As the project
manager carry out the project, they have company corporate values to guide them.
Lean – This methodology begins by conducting a work breakdown structure. This is
important as it helps in identifying all the areas where the waste of time and resources may
happen. The method aims at delivering the best project with minimum resources.
Six Sigma – This is a project management methodology that is purely based on statistics
(Pugna, Negrea, Miclea, 2016). The technique pursues to advance the standards of the project
by determining the bugs and defects present in a project and defining ways of reducing them
as close to zero as possible.
Lean six sigma – This method combines the lean approach of no waste and that of six sigma
of no defects to fulfill customer needs (Tagge, Thirumoorthi, Lenart, Garberoglio &
Mitchell, 2017).
Reflection on project management methodologies.
When doing my research to write the paper, I have learned about various project methodologies
that exist. I have seen when and where to apply these methodologies. However, the most critical
question that I asked myself as I was going through the paper is how do I choose the best
methodology for my project?
I have discovered that depending on my project objective, goals and deliverables and my project
requirements; then it is possible to pick the best methodology for any given project. For instance,

PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES
if I am developing a software product where I don’t have all the requirements at the beginning of
the project, then agile methods will be very applicable in my case.
In conclusion, it is good to note that, a single project methodology might not be enough or
sufficient to carry out the project. In this scenario, several project management methodologies
can be combined to come up with a hybrid methodology that will fit the needs of that specific
project.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES
References
Alok, K. (2016). Process-based project proposal risk management. Trendy V Podnikání, Vol 6, Iss SI,
Pp 16-24 (2016), (SI), 16.
Pugna, A., Negrea, R., & Miclea, S. (2016). Using Six Sigma Methodology to Improve the Assembly
Process in an Automotive Company. Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences, 221(13th
International Symposium in Management: Management During and After the Economic Crisis),
308-316. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.120
Radcliffe, B. M., Kawal, D. E., & Stephenson, R. J. (1972). Critical path method. Boston, Mass:
Cahners Books.
Rasnacis, A., & Berzisa, S. (2017). Method for Adaptation and Implementation of Agile Project
Management Methodology. Procedia Computer Science, 104(ICTE 2016, Riga Technical
University, Latvia), 43-50. doi:10.1016/j.procs.2017.01.055
Saleh, H. (2015). Agile Project Management Fundamentals: Scrum.
Shtub, A., & Rosenwein, M. (2016). Project management: Processes, methodologies, and economics.
Tagge, E. P., Thirumoorthi, A. S., Lenart, J., Garberoglio, C., & Mitchell, K. W. (2017). Practice
Management: Improving operating room efficiency in academic children's hospital using Lean
Six Sigma methodology. Journal Of Pediatric Surgery, 521040-1044.
doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2017.03.035
Wysocki, R. K. (2010). Adaptive project framework: Managing complexity in the face of uncertainty.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Addison-Wesley.