Project Management Methodologies: Agile vs. PMBOK Processes Comparison

This report provides an analysis of project management methodologies, focusing on Agile and PMBOK processes. It explains the various stages of project management, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, controlling, and closing, highlighting the differences and similarities between these processes. The report assesses the relevance of different methodologies to project processes, concluding that Agile methodology is well-suited due to its flexibility and adaptability. It also discusses the inter-phase processes within each project management stage and emphasizes the importance of a structured work breakdown structure (WBS) for effective project completion within stipulated timeframes. The report draws from PMBOK guidelines to provide a comprehensive understanding of project management processes for innovation and development.

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Project Management Methodologies
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Executive Summary
Project management is used by managers of an organization to develop certain phase of a
project so that new product and services can be innovated in market. PMBOK shares knowledge
and provide guidelines along with giving information about processes, tools and techniques that
should be used for managing projects. Different processes of project management is explained in
the report that also mentions relevancy of the project with the particular method. This report
enlightens on Agile methodology and PMBOK of project management.
The project deals with the similarities and differences between various processes of
project management. It also analyses relevancy of various methodology with the project along
with describing inter phase processes of every project management processes. From analysis of
the project last part, it has been found that agile methodology is most suitable for processes of
project management. From analysis of the processes the conclusion has been drawn. In
conclusion, it has been mentioned that Agile project management methodology provides
flexibility in management activities along with adjusting the work progress.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Analysis...........................................................................................................................................3
Explaining the project management processes............................................................................4
Differences between processes of project management..............................................................5
Relevancy of the methods with the processes of project.............................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
Project Management is defined by a set of activity, tools and knowledge that is divided
into several phases and processes. The methodologies provide guidelines to the manager that
include budget and time limit of the project for conducting innovation and developing business
process. The tools that are required for project management according to PMBOK are WBS
structure, critical path analysis and Gantt chart. An organization develops business process by
choosing appropriate tools and techniques of project management. Any size of organization can
follow these methods.
This report aims at explaining various project management methods and making a
comparison among them. Additionally, the report also focused on appropriate application
process of those PM processes. The comparison between several project management
methodologies is made by comparing the phases of project management in order. The stages in
order are 1. Initiation- Initiation is the first project management process of an organization. The
process identifies section that need innovation or development and creates the need for
innovation and development needed. 2. Planning- The goals and objectives of the organization
are set in this process as mentioned in PMBOK. 3. Executing- The third project management
process includes setting coordination among project team members that will take part in the
project management process for organization development and maintaining resources. 4.
Controlling- The process of controlling is expected to start from planning stage and end in
closing stage. 5. Monitoring- The fourth stage includes monitoring process of management. 6.
Closing- The last part of project management is closing the project. This process is maintained
based on the outcome of monitoring. The two parts of project management processes are
facilitating process and enabling process.

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Analysis
The common methodology that is used to carry out project management process is Agile
methodology that includes phases like initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closing of
project. According to some authors, Agile methodology is used to manage small projects that
only includes schedule management, cost management, scope management and time
management (Kerzner, 2013). As mentioned earlier that project management processes is
divided into two parts namely Facilitating process that includes methods like stakeholder
management, contract management, risk management, team management as well as information
management and Enabling process that includes schedule management, scope management, cost
management and quality management.
In PMBOK, it has been mentioned that the main project management processes
are initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and closing of the project. All facilitating and
enabling process follows the above processes as explained in PMBOK (PMBOK Guide, 2000).
Figure 1: Project Management processes
Source: PMBOK Guide, 2000
Initiation
process
Planning
process
Execution
process
Monitoring
process
Closing process
Controlling
process

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Explanation of the project management processes:
Initiation: Initiation is the first project management process of an organization. The process
identifies section that need innovation or development and creates the need for innovation and
development needed. They also clarify the sections where innovation or development is needed.
Planning: The second project management process is planning. The goals and objectives of the
organization are set in this process as mentioned in PMBOK. Additionally, the authorities
require performing internal activities like scope identification, time management and budget
building (Larson & Gray, 2013). These are considered as the internal activities along with goal
setting.
Execution: The third project management process includes setting coordination among project
team members that will take part in the project management process for organization
development and maintaining resources. The resources are financial support, materials required
for innovation, development, and workforce.
Monitoring: The fourth stage includes monitoring process of management. Appropriate tools for
monitoring are used by project managers to access if the project is meeting its goals successfully.
Controlling: The process of controlling is expected to start from planning stage and end in
closing stage. The activities of innovation and development should be maintained in a proper
way in this process. The total cycle of controlling starts in planning process and ends at closing.
Closing: This process is maintained based on the outcome of monitoring. The project needs to be
closed by authority for getting positive outcome.
Differences between processes of project management:

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Each project management process is different from the other. There are several differences
between each inter phase process of Agile project management method. The differences are
discussed below:
Figure 2. Initiation inter phase process
Source: PMBOK Guide, 2000
Project management focuses on scope in initiation process. The core process and facilitating
process are included in the planning stage. Time and cost management is mainly focussed on in
core process. The time of activities in project management is limited to 30 days (Schwalbe,
2015). The cost of each activity should be calculated by authority based on the activities for
meeting the goals of the project without interruption. Agile methodology is used to manage small
projects that only includes schedule management, cost management, scope management and time
management (Kerzner, 2013). As stated by Fleming & Koppelman (2016), to understand the
barriers of project, core process risk management is important. Another author argued that
facilitating process included in planning process needs risk management. The planning inter
phase process mainly focus on human resource activities and development quality to take
forward the project into the next stage (PMBOK Guide, 2000).

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Figure 3. Planning inter phase process
Source: PMBOK Guide, 2000
The execution process of agile methodology consists of two parts facilitation and
integration process. The main difference between execution and planning process as mentioned
by some authors is that planning stage consists of both core and facilitating process whereas
execution stage consists of only facilitation process (Mir & Pinnington, 2014). However, Snyder
(2017) argued that though execution focussed on only facilitation process, however, it also
focussed on communication, quality of developmental activities and HR management that are
included in the planning phase. The resources that are selected in the planning phase are used in
execution process. However, agile methodology is followed by all of the above processes and
inter phases.

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Figure 4. Execution inter phase process
Source: PMBOK Guide, 2000
The process of controlling has similarities and differences with all other processes of project
management except initiation process. The controlling process is directly connected with the
phases of planning, execution, monitoring and closing of the project (Mahadevan, Kettinger &
Meservy, 2015). The difference of controlling process with other process lies in inter phase
process that includes cost, scope, quality, time and risk, which is again included in the
facilitating process. This process mainly deals with measuring performance of selected activities
and techniques that has been followed previously followed by controlling integrated changes.
The PMBOK controlling process in facilitating phase verifies the scope first and then maintain
schedule according to the requirement of fulfilment of scope. In the next phase, controlling
process focusses on quality maintenance and budget. Controlling process is followed monitoring
phase that is based on this process.

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Figure 5. Controlling inter phase process
Source: PMBOK Guide, 2000
The progress of the agile method is monitored by authority in the monitoring process. The focus
of monitoring process in on risk control and results of whole activity. If the authority choose
monitoring process for controlling risk then they need to first identify the risks and analyse
probability of new risks (Kerzner, 2013). Many authors argued that monitoring phase should
only focus on positive and negative results (Mahadevan, Kettinger & Meservy, 2015).
This result will help the authority to jump to the next step. The statement can be
supported by a proof that if the result reveals that the identified risks made interruption or created
new risks, then project managers gets positive vibes after examining the outcomes and can
perform the last closing processes of the project.
Figure 6. Closing inter phase process

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Source: PMBOK Guide, 2000
The two inter phase processes that are included in the closing stage are communications and
procurement. According to PMBOK, close of the contract that was built in initiation processes is
referred to as procurement. Communication section deals with closure by administration by
collecting information and finishing the project management.
Relevancy of the methods with the processes of project:
Agile methodology is mainly followed by the described project management. The main
advantages that is provided by agile methodology is flexibility and competitiveness. The
authority fulfils the project management by using the easy schedule provided by this method that
includes processes of planning, initiation, execution, controlling, monitoring and closing as
mentioned in PMBOK (PMBOK Guide, 2000).
Agile is an adaptive process that facilitates the above-mentioned processes. Additionally,
it provides a fixed schedule to authority for completing the project successfully. Agile process of
project management is short-term based and is suitable for project with short time goals,
processes between 30 days. It is also a cyclic process that makes it relevant for the projects. Due
to the flexibility of authority, projects under agile project management can be split into small
phases. The project management processes can be incremented in value within total time
required for completion of project in agile methodology (Kerzner, 2013).
As stated by Mahadevan, Kettinger & Meservy (2015), agile method provides greater
time management as compared to other methods like waterfall method where the period is
adjusted by project scope make agile methodology suitable for these processes. However, in
agile methodology, the scope of the project is adjusted by preserving project schedule. The
advantages that are provided by agile project management are a structured Work breakdown

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structure (WBS) that will help the authority gain knowledge about the cost and time required for
each activity. This will facilitate in designing every activity sequentially.
Conclusion:
From the above discussions, it can be concluded that project is boosted by the choice of
appropriate project management methods. Agile methodology is the most common PM method
that is used to build appropriate work breakdown structure that will help project managers to
complete the project within stipulated time period. The actual processes that need to be followed
is well mentioned in PMBOK, which provides knowledge of the process that each authority
should follow in order for innovation and development of a new service or product. The inter
phase processes of initiation, execution, planning, monitoring controlling and closing are all
related to each other. Agile process of project management is short-term based and is suitable for
project with short time goals, processes between 30 days. It is also a cyclic process that makes it
relevant for the projects. However, few differences also exists between them. The controlling
process is directly linked from the start of inter phase with initiation to the end of the project with
closing process. Other project management methodologies also contain inter phases that controls
various activities of the project such that the project is divided into small parts with short-term
goals.

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References:
Al-Azawi, R., Ayesh, A., & Obaidy, M. A. (2014, January). Towards agent-based agile approach
for game development methodology. In Computer Applications and Information Systems
(WCCAIS), 2014 World Congress on (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
Duka, D. (2013, May). Adoption of agile methodology in software development. In Information
& Communication Technology Electronics & Microelectronics (MIPRO), 2013 36th
International Convention on (pp. 426-430). IEEE.
Fleming, Q. W., & Koppelman, J. M. (2016). Earned value project management. Project
Management Institute.
Kaleel, S. B., & Harishankar, S. (2013). Applying agile methodology in mobile software
engineering: Android application development and its challenges. Computer Science
Technical Reports, 1-11.
Kerzner, H. (2013). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. (2013). Project Management: The Managerial Process with MS
Project. London: McGraw-Hill.
Mahadevan, L., Kettinger, W. J., & Meservy, T. O. (2015). Running on Hybrid: Control Changes
when Introducing an Agile Methodology in a Traditional" Waterfall" System
Development Environment. CAIS, 36, 5.
Mahalakshmi, M., & Sundararajan, M. (2013). Traditional SDLC Vs Scrum Methodology–A
Comparative Study. International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced
Engineering, 3(6), 192-196.
Mir, F. A., & Pinnington, A. H. (2014). Exploring the value of project management: linking
project management performance and project success. International journal of project
management, 32(2), 202-217.
Patwardhan, A., Kidd, J., Urena, T., & Rajgopalan, A. (2016). Embracing Agile methodology
during DevOps Developer Internship Program. arXiv preprint arXiv:1607.01893.

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PMBOK Guide, (2000). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. Project
Management Institute. Retrieved from
http://www.cs.bilkent.edu.tr/~cagatay/cs413/PMBOK.pdf
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. London: Cengage Learning.
Snyder, C. (2017). A project manager's book of forms: A companion to the PMBOK guide. John
Wiley & Sons.
Soni, D., & Kohli, P. J. (2017). Cost Estimation Model for Web Applications using Agile
Software Development Methodology. Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 25(3).
Verzuh, E. (2015). The fast forward MBA in project management. New Jersey: John Wiley &
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Yau, A., & Murphy, C. (2013). Is a Rigorous Agile Methodology the Best Development Strategy
for Small Scale Tech Startups?.