Project Management Methodologies: Comparison and Project Life Cycle

This report provides a comprehensive overview of project management methodologies, focusing on Waterfall methodology, the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), and the project life cycle. It defines project methodology, explaining its role in project management and its systematic approach to project completion. The report then delves into a comparative analysis of Waterfall methodology and PMBOK, highlighting their similarities and differences, with a detailed explanation of the features of each. Furthermore, it explores the concept of the project life cycle, outlining its main features and similarities with the Waterfall methodology. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding these methodologies for effective project planning, execution, and successful completion, supported by relevant references.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES
Project Management Methodologies
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Question 1
Definition of Project Methodology
The term Project Methodology was first coined when business organizations were
looking for simpler ways to complete a task for in a structured way during the 1960s (Kerzner
& Kerzner, 2017). Project methodology can be defined as a set of scientifically proven
logical methods and processes utilized for the delivery of a complete project until all the
assigned tasks are completed. It systematically approaches a project from its inception,
planning, execution, and finally its completion.
Roles that Project Methodology serves in Project Management
Project Methodology serves as the backbone for the management of a Project. It
controls a project providing the effective management including the problem solving and
decision-making theories with in-depth knowledge of the project deliverables (Snyder, 2014).
This provides a project manager to have clarity about what to deliver in the project step-by-
step. A project management methodology creates a full view picture about the project having
complete clarity of work delivery with respect to the schedule of work, the budget
clarification and client-side specification.
Question 2
Similarities and Dissimilarities between Waterfall methodology and methodology
outlined by PMBOK
What is a PMBOK?
PMBOK or Project Management Body of Knowledge can be defined as the entire
collection of standardized processes, practises, guidelines and terminologies that are
distinguished in the industry of project management (Snyder, 2014). There are many

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attributes in a successful project management methodology that needs to be upgraded
constantly in order to keep up with the ever-changing world of business and technology.
However, the Project Management Institute or the PMI has constantly rejected the idea of
upgrading project management features. This way traditional ways of handling a project is
easily distinguishable from PMBOK.
What are the main features of PMBOK?
The main features of Project Management Body of Knowledge or PMBOK can be
summarized as below:
 Management of Project Integration
 Management of scope of the project
 Management of the required time
 Management of the budget of the project
 Management of quality
 Human Resource Management
 Management of communications within the project
 Management of procurement and risk associated with the project
These features of the PMBOK define the best possible management procedures to
proceed through a project starting from its inception to its completion along its life cycle
(Snyder, 2014).
What is Waterfall Methodology?
There are different methodologies to approach a project. Waterfall method is one of
them where it is required to proceed through a project by moving in a particular set of stages
until it is ready for completion. A traditional waterfall methodology obeys a strict flow of

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systematic planning in the similar way as a waterfall methodology works in case of software
development (Mitsuyuki et al., 2017). The tasks in a waterfall methodology for a project is
grouped according to the type of tasks set to be done. The phases including the requirement,
design, implementation, testing, and operations represent a waterfall when processed through
a Gantt chart.
What are the main features of Waterfall methodology?
The main features of a waterfall methodology represent a flowing waterfall, from
where it obtains its name (Mitsuyuki et al., 2017). The primary features of the Waterfall
methodology include the following:
 Requirement – Where the requirements of a software is discussed
 Design – Where the architecture of the plan is set and the technology to
continue the project is made
 Implementation – Where the solution to the plan is executed with proper
choosing of teams for the required tasks
 Testing – Where the implementation is checked according to the devised plan,
and if the implementation has been correct or not
 Operations – Where it is checked whether the implemented ideas to continue
the project are working accordingly with regards to the environment or not
Similarities of PMBOK and Waterfall
PMBOK is a guide to proceed to a project corresponding to the best management
practices. On the other hand, Waterfall methodology is a systematic approach towards the
advancement of a project (Schwalbe, 2015). Both of them are similar in the way that they
both provide a systematic approach towards project advancement.

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Dissimilarities of PMBOK and Waterfall
PMBOK and Waterfall methods are both Project management methodologies.
However, there is some dissimilarity present between these two methodologies. Where
PMBOK serves as a manual of the management practices, the Waterfall method is the design
of the methodology (Mitsuyuki et al., 2017). This means that Waterfall paves the way
towards managing a project, where PMBOK forms the storehouse for the management
techniques.
Question 3
What is Project Life Cycle?
Every project has an inception phase and a termination phase. When an organization
takes up projects, it takes the responsibility of dividing the tasks into these phases for a better
acknowledgement of the individual projects (Mitsuyuki et al., 2017). Collectively, a project
life cycle is thus defined as the period from the inception to the termination phase of a
project.
What are main features of Project Life Cycle?
The primary features of a Project Life Cycle include the following:
 At the inception of a Project, the costing and staffing drops down, then shoots
up somewhere in the middle during the period and again falls below nearing
the completion of the project (Mitsuyuki et al., 2017).
 Risk associated with a project is always at a high during the runtime of a
project.

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 Influence of the stakeholders in the project is the reason why the estimated
costs drop down with random error checking and corrections throughout the
project.
Similarities in the features of PLC and Waterfall Methodology
Waterfall Methodology Features Project Life Cycle Features
Waterfall methodology forms the backbone of a
project processing a structure of how to proceed
through the entire phase of the project starting
from its inception to completion (Nicholas &
Steyn, 2017).
Project Life Cycle determines the process phases
in the entire time period of the task starting from
its inception to completion.
Therefore, it could be stated that the similarity between project life cycle and
Waterfall methodology is that, both the processes are involved throughout the project from its
planning until it is delivered to the clients.

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Reference
Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Marchewka, J. (2015). Information technology project management: Providing measurable
organizational value (5th ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Mitsuyuki, T., Hiekata, K., Goto, T., & Moser, B. (2017). Evaluation of Project Architecture
in Software Development Mixing Waterfall and Agile by Using Process
Simulation. Journal of Industrial Integration and Management, 2(02), 1750007.
Nicholas, J. M., & Steyn, H. (2017). Project management for engineering, business and
technology. Taylor & Francis.
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Snyder, C. S. (2014). A guide to the project management body of knowledge: PMBOK (®)
guide. Project Management Institute: Newtown Square, PA, USA.