Project Management Report: Methodologies and Lifecycle Analysis

This report offers a comprehensive analysis of project management methodologies, focusing on the comparison between Waterfall and Agile approaches. It begins by defining project methodology and its role in project management, emphasizing its importance in planning, execution, and control. The report then delves into a detailed comparison of Waterfall and Agile methodologies, highlighting their differences in flexibility, software development processes, and handling of project requirements. Furthermore, it explores the similarities between the two methodologies, particularly in their adherence to the software development lifecycle. The report also examines the project lifecycle, including initiation, planning, execution, and closure stages, and illustrates how the chosen methodologies relate to each stage. The analysis is supported by references to relevant literature and a diagram of the project lifecycle process, providing a clear understanding of the application of methodologies in real-world project scenarios.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT 1
Project Management
Name
Institution Affiliation

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Task 1
Definition of project methodology
Kerzner, & Kerzner, (2017) defines project management methodology as a
combination of logically linked methods, practices as well as processes which are used to
determine the best way on how to plan, develop, regulate and deliver a project throughout the
constant implementation course until successful accomplishment and termination. On the
same note, project management methodology is defined as a scientifically certified systematic
as well as the disciplined style used in designing, executing and completion of a project
(McPherson, Nichol, Owen, Moore, & Hazelwood, 2015).
Role of methodology in project management
The objective of project methodology is to enable the control of the whole
management process which is realised through effective decision-making as well as problem
solving and at the same time making sure that the techniques, processes, technologies,
approaches, and methods are successful. Generally, project methodology gives a skeleton
used for describing each step in detail to enable the project manager to understand all the
requirements need to implement to deliver the project based on the customer's specifications,
budget and schedule (Joslin, & Müller, 2015). Consequently, a methodology is a vital
component in project management which has the following roles:
 Strategic alignment: Methodology help to ensure that the project is to be delivered is
right and it will be able to deliver the anticipated functionality according to the
business opportunity.
 Realistic project planning: project methodology is significant since it helps to ensure
that there is a proper set of expectations around the project deliverables as it outlines
the time when the project will be accomplished and the cost that will be used to

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deliver it. Accordingly, minus project methodology the project can set delivery
timelines and make budget estimations which could be over-ambitious or lacking in
analogous estimation insights from other similar projects.
 Quality control: Project methodology plays a vital role in ensuring that quality is the
project is not compromised. Accordingly, methodology ensures that different project
stages are connected, which allow project teams to evaluate the output of the project
for applicability, quality and return on investment.
 Risk management: Methodology is essential as it allows the project manager to
manage and mitigate risks in a proper manner. Project methodologies demand that
project managers carefully analyse all possible risks to the project, by developing a
mitigation plan against these risks, quantify the risks and develop a contingency plan
in case any of the risks materialise.
Task 2
Comparison between Waterfall and Agile methodologies
Waterfall methodology is a systematic model in which the software development
process is divided into a sequence of pre-defined stages starting from feasibility, planning,
design, execution, test, implementation and support while, the agile methodology the
software development process takes a linear sequence approach providing flexibility for
modification of project requirements as they happen. Therefore, Waterfall and Agile
methodology have a range of differences and similarities.
Differences between Agile and Waterfall methodology
 Agile is more flexible such that it allows for modification in project requirements as
they happen while Waterfall is a systematic software development approach which in

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most cases is rigid since it only moves to the following phases after completing the
initial phase (Komai, Saidi, & Nakanishi, 2016).
 For the Waterfall model, the software development course is segmented into
dissimilar stages whereas Agile model segregates the software development process
into scripts.
 In regard to the Waterfall model the software development can only be accomplished
as a single project that is subdivided into a range of stages with every stage only
appearing once in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) while Agile model is
regarded as a set of numerous dissimilar project which are iterations of the dissimilar
stages with the focus of enhancing the general software quality based on feedback
from the client.
 The use of Waterfall model for software development demands that one has to have a
clear understanding of all the development requirements initially since there are no
making changes in the requirements once the project development process has
commenced (Hiekata, Mitsuyuki, Goto, & Moser, 2016). On the other hand, the Agile
methodology is a flexible model where it allows for modifications being made in the
project requirements between the course of the project.
Similarities between Agile and Waterfall methodology
Accordingly, both Waterfall and Agile methodology are software development
approaches which all involve these methodologies follow the software development lifecycle
to accomplish their software development process.
Task 3
Methodologies related to the project life cycle

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The project life cycle comprises of four stages that is an initiation, planning, execution and
closure (Kerzner, & Kerzner, 2017).
Initiation stage: A this stage the project manager identifies the project requirements such as project
stakeholders, scope and business case.
Planning stage: The planning stage entails further development of the project solution in an in-depth
manner by planning the necessary steps required to realise the project objectives (Kerzner, &
Kerzner, 2017). The project manager and the team identifies all the work to be undertaken by
structuring how these objectives should be met. Some of this preparation include resource gathering,
budget estimation and creation of work breakdown structure.
Execution stage: It is at this stage that the project plan is placed into action where the project work is
carried out with constant monitoring and suitable modifications being undertaken to record the
changes from the original plan.
Closure stage: This is the final stage which is concerned with release of the concluding project
deliverables to the customer, providing project certification to the business, release of project
resources, terminating contracts with supplier and communicating the closure to all project
stakeholders (Walden, Roedler, Forsberg, Hamelin, & Shortell, 2015). The figure below shows
the project life cycle process

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Figure 1: Project life cycle process
References
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).
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.
Komai, S., Saidi, H., & Nakanishi, H. (2016). Man-Hour Comparison between Two Methods
of Agile and Waterfall in IT System Development. INNOVATION AND
MANAGEMENT, 1707.

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McPherson, A., Nichol, S., Owen, K., Moore, D., & Hazelwood, M. (2015). The Australian
Coastal Sediment Compartments Project: methodology and product development.
Geoscience Australia.
Walden, D. D., Roedler, G. J., Forsberg, K., Hamelin, R. D., & Shortell, T. M.
(2015). Systems engineering handbook: A guide for system life cycle processes and
activities. John Wiley & Sons.