University Project Management Report: Methodologies and Comparisons

This report provides a comprehensive overview of project management methodologies, focusing on the comparison between PMBOK and Waterfall models. It defines project methodology as a combination of practices, procedures, and techniques used to ensure project quality and successful delivery. The report explores the similarities and differences between PMBOK and Waterfall, highlighting their approaches, project types, and guidelines. Furthermore, it relates the Waterfall model to the project life cycle, explaining its phases and usability in project execution. The analysis emphasizes the role of project methodology in reducing project costs, ensuring relevant output, and aiding in decision-making and problem-solving. The report concludes by underscoring the importance of selecting the appropriate methodology for project success, with references to various academic sources.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Table of Contents
1. Project Methodology Definition............................................................................................2
2. Similarities and Differences between PMBOK and Waterfall..............................................3
3. Relating Waterfall with Project Life Cycle............................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................6

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1. Project Methodology Definition
The practical as well as the well defined mixture of various practices, procedures,
techniques and methods to check the project quality that is being delivered can be referred to
as project management methodology or project methodology in short. As per Walker, 2015,
the most significant objective of this project methodology is the proper planning, controlling,
developing and finally delivering a project with the help of successful process
implementation. This implementation is extremely important for any project as if there is any
problem in this implementation, there is a high chance that the project might be a huge
failure. On the other hand, is the process is implemented successfully, the project becomes a
huge success (Fleming & Koppelman, 2016). The project methodology can be termed as the
systematic and disciplined approach for designing and executing a particular project. Project
methodology is responsible for achieving several objectives like fulfilling stakeholder’s
requirements. The stakeholders of an organization mainly include any one related to a project
and these requirements should be fulfilled at any cost (Burke, 2013). Every project has one
common language that can be easily understood by all the members of the projects for
knowing the project requirements perfectly. Moreover, the estimation of project budget or
project cost is done with the help of project methodology; this estimation is absolutely
accurate and perfect. Another important advantage of project methodology is that it helps to
resolve the conflict in projects. Since, it reduces the complexity of the project; there exists no
conflict within the project and project members (Schwalbe, 2015). Furthermore, the
deliverables that are solely expected are perfectly produced with the help of project
methodology.
The most popular and utilized project management methodologies are the Waterfall,
PRINCE2, PMBOK, Agile XP and Agile Scrum. All these methodologies have significant

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merits and demerits (Larson & Gray, 2013). There are two distinct types of project
methodologies. The entire approach of project methodology is divided in two broad
approaches, namely, traditional approaches and modern approaches. This traditional approach
of project methodology can be defined as the sequence of consecutive phases in managing
any particular project (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017). The complete execution of this project
methodology approach is done in systematic manner and thus can be utilized for the
successful design, development and project delivery. The proper and the most popular
example of this traditional approach is the Waterfall model (Mishra & Dubey, 2013). There
are seven phases in this Waterfall model and each of the phases has to be executed for
reaching to the next step. A series of sequences is undergone in this model. the second project
methodology approach is modern approach. The main difference with traditional approach is
that, modern approach never focuses on any type of linear processes. Information technology
companies utilize modern approaches for their projects (Larson & Gray, 2013). The most
utilized and popular examples of modern approach are Scrum, PRINCE2, PMBOK and Six
Sigma.
A project methodology has a very important role in managing a project. It helps in
executing the entire project properly and without complexities. A particular budget is solely
followed in the project by this methodology (Schwalbe, 2015). Exclusive control is there on
the project with the help of project methodology. Moreover, decision-making as well as
problem solving becomes easier with this.
2. Similarities and Differences between PMBOK and Waterfall
PMBOK and Waterfall are the two most important methodologies in project
management and thus help in successful execution of project (Snyder, 2014). Broadly, there
are some of the major similarities as well as dissimilarities between the methodologies of

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PMBOK and Waterfall. The major similarities between PMBOK and Waterfall
methodologies are give below:
i) Reduction of Project Costs: The most basic similarity between PMBOK and
Waterfall methodologies is that both of them helps in the reduction of project budget or
project costs (Alshamrani & Bahattab, 2015). Thus, extra cost is not needed.
ii) Relevant Output: Waterfall model and PMBOK gives relevant and significant
output for all the projects. Thus, all project managers broadly accept them.
However, there are some of the most important dissimilarities as well. They are given
below:
i) Methodology Approach: The most basic dissimilarity between Waterfall and
PMBOK methodologies is that PMBOK methodology is the example of modern approaches
and Waterfall methodology is the significant example of traditional approach.
ii) Project Type: This is the second important dissimilarity between PMBOK and
Waterfall methodologies (Mahalakshmi & Sundararajan, 2013). As Waterfall model is the
example of traditional approaches, it subsequently follows a sequence of systematic
procedure, this methodology is never used in any big projects. PMBOK, on the other hand is
followed within all types of projects.
iii) Guidelines: PMBOK methodology gives various guidelines for its users, however,
no such benefit is present in the Waterfall model.
iv) Speed: Waterfall methodology is slower than all other project methodologies and
PMBOK is much more faster than the Waterfall. This is the fourth dissimilarity between
them.

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3. Relating Waterfall with Project Life Cycle
Waterfall project methodology can be termed as the best examples of project
methodologies in managing any particular project (Model, 2015). This specific approach for
linear sequence designing is solely provided for the development of software in any
organization. This is a type of traditional methodology approach and it always follows the
procedure of systematic sequence to properly execute any project. Moreover, the Waterfall
model has extreme flexibility and slow, when compared to others (Mahalakshmi &
Sundararajan, 2013). Seven major and distinct phases are present in this Waterfall
methodology. The phases of this model mainly include initiate, analysis, designing, construct,
testing, deploy and finally maintenance. The major usability of this methodology is in small
projects and all types of construction companies. It has a major role in PLC or project life
cycle, since it helps in the execution of project sequentially (Alshamrani & Bahattab, 2015).
From the starting of the project, until the end of it, Waterfall model is utilized for sequential
execution. It completes a PLC.

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References
Alshamrani, A., & Bahattab, A. (2015). A comparison between three SDLC models waterfall
model, spiral model, and Incremental/Iterative model. International Journal of
Computer Science Issues (IJCSI), 12(1), 106.
Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and control techniques. New Jersey, USA.
Fleming, Q. W., & Koppelman, J. M. (2016, December). Earned value project management.
Project Management Institute.
Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. (2013). Project management: The managerial process with MS
project. McGraw-Hill.
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.
Mishra, A., & Dubey, D. (2013). A comparative study of different software development life
cycle models in different scenarios. International Journal, 1(5), 64-69.
Model, W. (2015). Waterfall Model. Luettavissa: http://www. waterfall-model. com/.
Luettu, 3.
Pinto, J. K. (2015). Project management: achieving competitive advantage. Prentice Hall.
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.

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Snyder, C. S. (2014). A guide to the project management body of knowledge: PMBOK (®)
guide. Project Management Institute: Newtown Square, PA, USA.
Walker, A. (2015). Project management in construction. John Wiley & Sons.