Comparison of Agile Scrum and PMBOK Project Management Methods

This report provides a comprehensive overview of project management, focusing on two key methodologies: Agile Scrum and PMBOK. It begins with an executive summary outlining the core concepts of project management, emphasizing the importance of planning, implementation, and organization. The report delves into the Agile Scrum methodology, highlighting its iterative approach, flexibility, and suitability for complex projects. It contrasts this with the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) method, detailing its five-step process: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closure. A detailed comparison between the two methods is presented, covering aspects such as risk management, project integration, time management, scope management, communication, human resources, quality, and cost management. Furthermore, the report illustrates the practical applications of both methodologies, including a case study of Minaya Learning Global Solutions' implementation of Agile Scrum and Google's use of Agile in a project to compete with MS Word, showcasing how these methods can be used to enhance project productivity and achieve desired outcomes. The report concludes by summarizing the key differences and applications of each method, providing valuable insights for project managers and business leaders.

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

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Executive Summary
Project management is application of skills, tools, techniques and knowledge so that
the activities of the project are completed to fulfill the requirements of the project. The
planning, implementing and organizing processes are overseen by the process of project
management. A scrum methodology has a specific end and a start process are designed in the
project management so that the project is completed successfully with the desired outcome. A
project charter is always initiated in the beginning of the project management and it identifies
all the potential challenges that may come in the project in advance and ways to mitigate the
problems are also solved in the process of project management. The project management is
considered to be a specific function in the organization by the business leaders. The business
leaders hire project managers that are trained mainly to manage the project. Project managers
are needed by business organizations to handle the operations that are related with the
project. Different approaches and methods can be employed by the project managers to run
the projects. This project gives a detail about the agile scrum methodology in the project
management system and the PMBOK methodology that is used for the project management
technology.

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary.............................................................................................................1
Introduction..........................................................................................................................3
Project Methods...................................................................................................................3
Comparison between all the Methods..................................................................................3
Applications of the Methods................................................................................................3
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................3
References............................................................................................................................3

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Introduction
Project management is one of the things that ensure what type of project is being
delivered and the project that is delivered is right or not. In business management project
management delivers real value. Management of project is one of the things that look easy
but actually it is not the thing (Schwalbe, 2015). The stakeholders believe that the project
management is easy to handle but actually it is not so. The idea behind project management is
very surprising. The idea of project management is very prominent for all the organizations
that are new and are also very important in organizations that are small. Stakeholders
consider project management as a bureaucratic nonsense (Stettina & Hörz, 2015). The project
management is done through paperwork for doing all the things right at the right time.
In this report, two of the project management methodologies are discussed
elaborately. The methods that are discussed are the scrum agile method and the PMBOK
method. The details of the methods are described and a detailed comparison is done between
the agile method and PMBOK method. Area of applications which uses the agile method and
the PMBOK method is described.
Project Management Methods
Project management consists of many methodologies which are used by the managers
who handle the project for designing, planning, implementing and for achieving the
objectives of the projects. There are many project development methodologies that are used
in business processes. The Agile method and the PMBOK (Project Management Body of
Knowledge) are described below.
1. Agile Methodology: Scrum is one of the agile frameworks to complete complex projects.
For developing the software, scrum framework is needed. Scrum works very well with

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innovative and complex works. Working of scrum is very easy. Software development is
mainly managed by scrum methodology. Scrum mainly depends on cross-functional and self-
organizing team. There is no particular team leader in scrum methodology who will decide
what work should be allocated to which person.
The main idea of agile method came in 2001 from 17 people. This was the first
written form of this methodology that was proposed (Fleming & Koppelman, 2016). For
Software Development they proposed an Agile Manifesto to bring a ground breaking mindset
on collaborating and delivering value with all the customers in a company. Agile method has
main four values. These are:
 Interactions and individuals over tools and processes
 Comprehensive documentation are needed for working with the software
 Collaboration with customers are needed that are done over contract negotiation
 To make some change on the plan that is done previously, response is needed
immediately
The process of Agile Project Management is considered as a method of value centered
for managing the project that allows accessing all the processes in small cycle or phases. The
agile method is much flexible and all the projects that exhibit dynamic traits can get benefit
from the agile method (Snyder, 2014). The managers which use the agile method in their
projects treat milestones as the goal that is to be changed continuously to abrupt all the
changes that are received from the feedback of the client. Agile method is best suitable for
projects that are small and the project team must have highly collaborative team or should
have a project that has frequent iteration.
2. PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge): In the institute of Project
Management, the methodologies that are needed to manage the project in not considered as a

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methodology. The methodologies are considered as some set of standards which involves five
processes of steps in project management (Hornstein, 2015). This is outlined as Project
Management Body of Knowledge. There are mainly five steps that are followed in the
PMBOK. The steps are to initiate the project, plan the project, execute them, control them
and finally thee last step involves in closing the project. The steps are discussed as follows:
Project Initiation: Project Initiation is the starting of any project. The initiation of the
project involves in defining the project in details. Manly in the business case, the phase of
initiation begins. In the phase of project initiation, the project manager research if the project
that are starting is feasible or not and decide whether they should proceed with the project.
The feasibility test of the proposed project is done in this phase.
Project Planning: Project Planning is a key step to compete any type of project
successfully. This phase helps to develop a roadmap that will be followed by everyone. Goals
are being set in the phase of project planning. Mainly two methods are followed for setting
the goals in this phase. The methods are SMART and CLEAR. The SMART method involves
specific in which specific goals are set to answer question regarding who, when, which,
where and why the project is being held. The measurable in method involves to create the
criteria that is used to measure the successful completion of the goal (Kerzner, 2017). The
attainable methods include to identify the important goals and what is needed to achieve
them. R stands for realistic which includes what the project wills and able to work to achieve
a particular goal. The T is timely which creates timeframe for achieving goal of the project.
The CLEAR goal is the acronym of collaborative, limited, emotional, appreciable and
refinable.
Project Execution: In the execution phase, the deliverables are developed and are
completed successfully. Lot pf works are being carried out in the execution process. The

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status reports are made and meetings are held, updates related with development and
performance report are updated in the execution phase (Larson & Gray, 2013). All the team
members are involved in completing the project.
Project Monitoring and Performance: In the monitoring phase, the manager ensures
that all the process that is planned in the planning phase are executed properly (Turner,
2016). An indicator is used by the project manager which is known as Key Performance
Indicator to ensure that the project is on track.
Project Closure: This phase ensures weather the project is completed or not. On
completion of the project, the project manager holds meeting that is sometimes referred as the
post mortem. This phase shows weather the project is completed successfully and the project
manager held meetings regarding the project and to identify any risk that can come from the
project.
Comparison between the Methods
PMBOK Agile
Project Risk Management The process that are involved
are planning of risk
management, risk identification,
analysis of risk in qualitative
way and quantitative way,
planning for risk response and
control and monitoring method
related to risk.
The processes that are involved
in agile method is initial
assessment that comes during
pregame. Risks are reviewed
during the review meetings.

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Project Integration
Management
For project integration, the
PMBOK method develops
project charter, preliminary
project is developed, and scope
of the project developed, plan
and management of the project
is done, monitor and also
control the project, change
control and also close the
project.
Agile method involves
management verification,
funding and approval during the
planning phase, development of
infrastructure and tools are
validated, procedure regarded
sprint backlog.
Project Time Management Processes involve activity
diagram, activity resources,
activity sequencing, and
estimation the activity duration
and also control the schedule of
the project.
Delivery date of the project and
the function of all the process
are released. The agile method
also includes monthly
iterations.
Project Scope Management Scope of planning, scope of
definition, creates the WBS
(Work Breakdown Structure),
scope control and scope
verification are involved in this
process (Špundak, 2014).
To make the domain model,
domain analysis is performed,
comprehensive backlog list of
the product also developed, all
the functions that are included
in the each processes are
defined properly.
Project Communications
Management
Communication planning,
performance reporting, manage
stakeholders and information
In agile method, review meeting
are done, meeting related to
sprint planning is done,

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distribution is held in this
methodology.
communication standards of
project team is determined in
this (Marcelino-Sádaba et al.,
2014).
Project Human Resource
Management
Project team is needed in this
method. The project team is
managed and developed in done
in PMBOK.
Team participation in the sprint
meetings and the participation
in daily scrums are performed.
Project Quality Management In PQM, the quality planning is
done, quality assurance id given
and quality control is
performed.
Adjustment, review and
standards regarded with the
product are confirmed. Sprint
planning and sprint review
meeting is held (Meredith &
Mantel, 2011).
Project Cost Management Cost control, budgeting and cost
control is done in project cost
management of PMBOK
methodology (Wörösch,
Mortensen & Hvam 2014).
The cost that is estimated in the
planning phase are released in
the agile method.
Applications of the Methods
Agile methodology application: Minaya Learning Global Solutions is a leading
telecommunication industry that implements wide enterprise system that uses the agile scrum
methodology in its development process. The implementation of Agile methods included a

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training environment which gave the learners with systems that trains them as a live
environment. The implementation of the agile method in MLGS improved the project
productivity and resources. MLGS included a project management with development of the
agile methodology and training design. Agile methodology makes a fluid relationship
between the client and project manager.
Another sector where agile method is applied is by Google which is working on a
project that is competing product related to MS Word (Turk, France & Rumpe, 2014). All the
feature that are provided by MS Word will be present in the also will contain other features
that are requested by the team members of the marketing group. The final product will be
coming in next 10 months. The project uses agile methodology in the following ways:
 The project is divided into many parts known as iterations which is done in agile
methodology.
 All the iterations are to be completed in the same duration of time that is between 2 to
8 weeks.
 The product should be delivered at the end of each iteration.
 All the processes that are involved in developing the project should be broken up in to
10 releases which are mainly done in the agile approach.
 The team has collected all the core features of the project that are required and also
decide all the features that can be developed in first iteration.
 Any of the remaining features which are not delivered in the first iteration can be
taken forwarded in the next iteration.
More importance is given to the collaboration of the team, collaboration with
customer, respond to all the changes and deliver the working software (Abrahamsson et al.,

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2017). The Agile methodology is considered as the most common place in the IT industry.
Almost 52% of the respondents involve agile methodology in its project.
PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) methodology application: A
rapid rate in deterioration in the urban areas is faced by the Special Administrative Region of
Hong Kong. The city is densely populated and is unique in nature. The government is to
expedite the renewal work of the urban area to establish the Urban Renewal Authority in the
year 2001. This is done to replace the Land Development Corporation of Hong Kong that was
established 1988 (Kiznyte, Welker & Dechange, 2016). The new method that was involved in
the process operated with public accountability and the transparency that are demanded by
the community of that region. To tackle this issue the government involved the PMBOK
method. The government also had to complete 225 projects in coming 25 years that involved
a cost of 75$ billion. The government wants to make the Special Administrative Region of
Hong Kong to be a sustainable city that can incorporate the sustainability of the urban
population and the quality on the renewal in the urban areas. The Project Management Body
of Knowledge is needed in this project to emphasize more on the aspects of integrated
approach, multi-disciplinary approach, for sustainability, enables information technology,
involves stakeholder, structure of team hierarchical and attributes of team members (Low,
2015). By implementing PMBOK methodology, the government of Hong Kong supports the
implementation and policy that are important for the renewal work in the urban areas.
Conclusion
There is importance of project management in business that it brings direction in the
projects and also brings leadership. Project management ensures a proper planning to execute
the strategic goals that are involved in the process of running a business. Management of
project also ensures proper expectation of the project that are to be set around about what is

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to be delivered, when the project is to be delivered and an average cost of completing the
project. The quality of project that is to be delivered is also determined by implementing
project management and also ensure their clients that the risk that are related with the project
are managed properly and if risks occurs, then there should be some mitigation process
involved in the planning of project management so that the issue can be avoided. There is
importance of project management because involves right people at right time to do the right
work they should do. Proper processes are followed throughout the lifecycle of the project by
project management. The processes that are involved in the project can be reported and
tracked properly and this process helps to make a success path and also helps to determine
other to learn from previous success or some failures that may occur in the past.

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References
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management is now a necessity. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2),
pp.291-298.
Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management metrics, KPIs, and dashboards: a guide to measuring
and monitoring project performance. John Wiley & Sons.
Kiznyte, J., Welker, M., & Dechange, A. (2016). Applying Project Management Methods to
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Project. McGraw-Hill.
Low, F. S. (2015). Application of Japanese Project Management Methods (P2M/KPM) In
Japanese Organisations in Japan and Malaysia (Doctoral dissertation, UTAR).
Marcelino-Sádaba, S., Pérez-Ezcurdia, A., Lazcano, A.M.E. and Villanueva, P., 2014. Project
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