Project Methodologies: Agile XP, PRINCE2, and Project Life Cycle

This report delves into the realm of project methodologies, beginning with a definition of what constitutes a methodology and its crucial role in project management. The core of the report centers on a comparative analysis of two prominent methodologies: Agile XP and PRINCE2. This comparison highlights their similarities and differences, exploring their respective strengths and weaknesses in various project scenarios. Furthermore, the report meticulously examines the relationship between these chosen methodologies and the project life cycle (PLC), illustrating how each aligns with the phases of project initiation, planning, execution, and closure. Through this comprehensive analysis, the report provides valuable insights into the practical application and strategic selection of project methodologies for effective project management.

Project Methodologies
Agile XP and PRINCE2
11/24/2018

Project Methodologies
Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Definition of Methodology................................................................................................................2
Role of Methodology in Project Management...................................................................................2
Agile SCRUM & PRINCE2..................................................................................................................3
Comparison & Contrast.....................................................................................................................3
Relation with Project Life Cycle (PLC).................................................................................................4
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................6
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Project Methodologies
Introduction
Definition of Methodology
Project methodology is defined as the combination of methods, techniques, procedures, rules,
and a set of best practices that are amalgamated and applied on a project (Spundak, 2014).
Project methodologies can be defined as the application of skills, knowledge, tools, and
techniques to make sure that the project requirements and specifications are met (Al-Zwainy,
Mohammed & Raheem, 2016).
A methodology is defined as a step by step process and set of guidelines that shall be applied
in projects. There are several project methodologies defined for project management and the
selection of the methodology shall be based on the project needs and type. The primary
purpose of implementation and use of a project methodology is to ensure that the skills,
knowledge, methods, and techniques are applied in an adequate direction to meet the project
requirements and customer expectations.
Role of Methodology in Project Management
Methodology serves an extremely significant role in project management. Project
Management is a discipline that includes several project areas under it, such as schedule,
costs, resources, stakeholders, communication, risks, procurement, changes, quality, etc. Each
of these project areas has their own set of issues and challenges. Project methodology
provides the Project Manager, leadership, and members in the project team with the
guidelines and standards that shall be followed for successful handling of each area.
Standardization of the project activities and maintenance of compliance in the areas as legal,
regulatory, ethical, and quality is also ensured with the adoption of specific project
management methodology. Project methodology and project management are closely related
to each other. The goals and objectives of project management can be successfully applied in
the right direction with the aid of a specific project methodology applicable to the project.
The selection of the methodology may be done on the basis of the project scenarios and
requirements.
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Project Methodologies
Agile SCRUM & PRINCE2
Comparison & Contrast
There are several project management methodologies that have been defined. Two of such
widely used methodologies are Agile SCRUM and Projects in Controlled Environment
(PRINCE2). Agile SCRUM belongs to the adaptive category while PRINCE2 belongs to the
predictive set of the methodologies.
The similar features in both the Agile SCRUM and PRINCE2 are in the purpose of definition
of these methodologies. Both the methodologies have been defined to carry out effective
project management so that the project goals and objectives can be achieved. Both of these
methodologies are applied in the projects to make sure that the goals and objectives under the
project management discipline can be achieved for the project.
These methodologies act as the guidelines for the project and provide the project managers
and the resources in the project teams with the best practices and standards that shall be
followed to successfully execute and complete the project. Quality and ethical compliance are
focussed in both of these methodologies for project handling and management.
The difference between the two methodologies is shown in the table below.
Point of Difference Agile SCRUM PRINCE2
Type of Methodology Adaptive Predictive
Primary Roles Product Owner, Scrum Master,
Team
Project Manager, Team
Level of flexibility
and scalability
High Low
Structure Collaborative and Responsive Command & Control
Level of Planning Teams are self-directed and have no
barriers in progress
Plans are defined in detail
and strict adherence to the
plans shall be maintained
Management Features Prioritized Promised
Time & Budget Fixed Flexible
Agile SCRUM is an adaptive project management methodology that comes under the
umbrella of agile methodologies for project management. PRINCE2 on the other hand is a
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Project Methodologies
predictive methodology that carries out the project management activities in seven themes,
seven principles, and seven processes.
Project methodologies are broadly classified in two categories as predictive methodologies
and adaptive methodologies. Predictive methodologies are the ones that have a pre-defined
structure that shall be applied to the project while adaptive methodologies are the ones that
are ad-hoc and have scope for variations as per the project scenarios. Agile SCRUM and
PRINCE2 are examples of each of these sets (Hart, 2011).
Relation with Project Life Cycle (PLC)
There is a specific project life cycle (PLC) that a project follows and there are processes that
are involved in the same. The phases in the project life cycle include project initiation,
planning, execution, and closure.
PRINCE2 is a traditional project management methodology that has a close relation with the
project life cycle. The processes and stages that are included under PRINCE2 have the same
flow as that of PLC. The seven principles that are involved in PRINCE2 are continued
business justification, learning from experience, definition of roles and responsibilities,
manage by stages, manage by exception, focus on products, and tailor to environment
(Vanickova, 2017). The seven themes involved in the methodology are business case,
organization, quality, plans, risk, change, and progress. The management of the projects
regulated by PRINCE2 are done in processes as start-up stage, initiation, direction,
controlling, managing the product delivery, managing stage boundaries, and closure (Jamali
& Oveisi, 2016).
Agile SCRUM is an adaptive methodology that does not have a pre-defined structure or flow.
Thus, the methodology has a limited relation with the PLC. The methodology follows an
incremental and iterative approach for managing the project activities and divides all the
tasks is smaller units that may be easily managed. The deliveries in the projects that are
managed using this methodology are quick and frequent and the customer responses and
feedback is considered during the management strategies and decisions. There are iterations
that are involved in the management process and these iterations are referred as sprints in the
agile terminology (Tkachenko & Sivokoz, 2017). The activities to be covered in the sprint are
discussed in the meeting and the product owner is also involved in the discussion (Cervone,
2011).
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Project Methodologies
Conclusion
Agile SCRUM is an adaptive methodology for project management that has limited relation
with PLC. PRINCE2 is a predictive methodology that has a close relation with the phases that
come under the PLC.
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Project Methodologies
References
Al-Zwainy, F., Mohammed, I., & Raheem, S. (2016). Application Project Management
Methodology in Construction Sector: Review. Retrieved from
https://www.ijser.org/researchpaper/Application-Project-Management-Methodology-
in-Construction-Sector-Review.pdf
Cervone, H. (2011). Understanding agile project management methods using Scrum. OCLC
Systems & Services: International Digital Library Perspectives, 27(1), 18-22. doi:
10.1108/10650751111106528
Hart, M. (2011). Agile Product Management with Scrum: Creating Products that Customers
Love by Roman Pichler. Journal Of Product Innovation Management, 28(4), 615-
615. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-5885.2011.00829_2.x
Jamali, G., & Oveisi, M. (2016). A Study on Project Management Based on PMBOK and
PRINCE2. Modern Applied Science, 10(6), 142. doi: 10.5539/mas.v10n6p142
Spundak, M. (2014). Mixed Agile/Traditional Project Management Methodology – Reality or
Illusion?. Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences, 119, 939-948. doi:
10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.105
Tkachenko, I., & Sivokoz, K. (2017). Using Flexible Technologies Agile and Scrum for
Managing Project Stakeholders. Upravlenets, 68(4), 85-95. doi: 10.29141/2218-5003-
2017-6-4-10
Vanickova, R. (2017). Application of PRINCE2 Project Management Methodology. Studia
Commercialia Bratislavensia, 10(38), 227-238. doi: 10.1515/stcb-2017-0021
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