Evaluating Project Management Methodologies & Impact on Lifecycle

This report provides an overview of various project management methodologies including Waterfall, PRINCE2, PRiSM, Integrated Project Management, and Agile, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right methodology based on project type and objectives. It discusses the role of methodologies in systematically managing projects, enhancing confidence, and proactively addressing potential issues. The report compares and contrasts the Waterfall and Agile methodologies, highlighting their similarities in delivering quality products and differences in structure and flexibility. Furthermore, it explains the relationship between project methodologies and the project lifecycle, noting that efficient methodologies can shorten the lifecycle while loopholes can extend it. The conclusion underscores the critical role of methodologies in project management and the need to consider various factors when choosing a methodology to ensure project success. Desklib provides this report and many other resources for students.

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES
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Executive summary
There are various project management methodologies such as waterfall model,
PRINCE2, PRiSM, Integrated Project Management and many more. The application of
methodologies depends on the type of project and its objectives. Various methodologies are
discussed in the report below. Among these methodologies, two of them are selected and they
are compared and contrasted. The report also discusses regarding the relation between project
management methodologies and project life cycle.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Methodology................................................................................................................................3
Role of methodology in project management..............................................................................3
Project management methodologies............................................................................................4
Similarities...................................................................................................................................5
Differences...................................................................................................................................5
Relation of project methodologies with project life cycle...........................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
Choosing a proper and effective project management methodology is the major step that
has to be taken in order to proceed with a project. The methodology chosen would have an
impact on how the project members and the project manager work. The project methodology
varies according to the type of project, the scope of the project and the team working on the
project (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). Various project management methodologies have their own
pros and cons. the report discusses regarding different methodologies, the role of methodologies
on project management. It further chooses two among the methodologies, compares, and
contrasts them. It also mentions the relation of the methodologies with project life cycle.
Discussion
Methodology
Methodology is a structured set of various processes, methods, procedures and practices.
Methodology can be defined as a research strategy, which helps in outlining the way a particular
research has to be undertaken, it also identifies the methods that should be used (Turner, 2016).
The methods mentioned in the methodology describe the means by which data should be
collected.
Role of methodology in project management
Methodologies play a vital role in management of project. Methodology allows the
organization to handle the projects systematically, in a comprehensive manner and in integrated
form. It also provides benefits at operational, tactical and strategic levels. Methodology provides

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confidence to partners, senior management and customers that the organization has the ability to
manage as well as deliver the result of large projects (Uhl and Gollenia, 2016). Methodology
enables the managers to have confidence in the validation of status assessments. Methodology
also helps in recognizing and rectifying the problems beforehand.
Project management methodologies
1. Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK): Project Management Body of
Knowledge contains a set of standard guidelines and terminology (Nicholas and Steyn,
2017). PMBOK follows five steps, they are the start, planning, execution, steering and
control and fence.
2. PRINCE 2: PRINCE2 follows 7 themes, 7 processes and 7 principles. The 7 principles of
PRINCE2 are learning from experience, continuing business justification, manage by the
stages, define roles as well as responsibilities, manage by the exception, and make
changes in order to suit the environment of project and focus on the products.
3. SDLC: SDLC methodology stands for Systems Development Life Cycle. This
methodology combines two or more methods for best result (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017).
It also requires the use of documentation and follows strict guidelines.
4. Waterfall: Waterfall methodology is one of the oldest one. This methodology is
sequential as well as requirement-focused (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017). In order to
proceed with the project, its demands should be clear. Once the project has started, no
corrections can be done. Every stage in this methodology is self-contained.
5. Agile: Agile methodology is used when the waterfall methodology fails. Agile is opposite
to the waterfall method. This method does not have any heavy requirements (Nicholas

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and Steyn, 2017). This methodology helps in receiving regular feedback and makes the
necessary changes.
Similarities
Waterfall and Agile methodologies share the same goal that is to deliver a best quality
product in an efficient, responsive and predictable manner (Hiekata, Mitsuyuki and Goto et al.,
2016). Both the methodologies have similar perceptions such as they plan the work before
beginning it, set the requirement early, moves forward in a sequential manner, proceeds when the
previous steps are complete.
Differences
In the waterfall methodology, the process of software development is divided among
various phases’ whereas the agile methodology segregates the lifecycle of development into
sprints. Waterfall methodology is structured. It can be tough at times but agile methodology is
famous for the flexibility it possesses (Ashmore, Townsend and DeMarie et al., 2018). Waterfall
is a sequential process but agile methodology is very collaborative. The major difference among
these methodologies is that in waterfall model the phase of testing is performed concomitant the
building phase. However, in agile methodology the testing is carried out along with the
programming phase.
Relation of project methodologies with project life cycle
Project methodology plays a vital role in the life cycle of a project. The choosing of right
project methodology leads to shorter project life cycle. The more efficient a methodology is the
more efficient and productive the project becomes which automatically decreases the life cycle

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of the project (Turner, 2016). Loopholes in a project methodology lead to longer project life
cycle.

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Conclusion
From the report, it can be obtained that Project management methodologies play an
important role in project management. Choosing a suitable methodology for project might be
tricky. While choosing the perfect methodology many factors need to be considered such as the
aim of project, the team members and the resources involved in it and many more. Every project
management has their own impact on the project.

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References
Ashmore, S., Townsend, A., DeMarie, S., & Mennecke, B. (2018). An exploratory examination
of modes of interaction and work in waterfall and agile teams. International Journal of
Agile Systems and Management, 11(1), 67-102.
Hiekata, K., Mitsuyuki, T., Goto, T., & Moser, B. R. (2016, October). Design of Software
Development Architecture Comparison of Waterfall and Agile Using Reliability Growth
Model. In ISPE TE (pp. 471-480).
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.
Turner, R. (2016). Gower handbook of project management. Routledge.
Uhl, A., & Gollenia, L. A. (Eds.). (2016). Business transformation management methodology.
Routledge.