Introduction
In selecting a project management methodology, many factors are considered, some of which represent the nature of the project, its scope, and the organizational setting. Among the factors considered are the project’s size, complexity, urgency, stakeholders’ choices, available resources, and the culture of our organization (Thesing et al., 2021). Moreover, the nature of the project, whether iterative and adaptable or more sequential and predictable, will highly affect methodology selection.
Project Management Methods and Methodology Selection
Agile, Lean, and Waterfall are three prominent project management methodologies (Thesing et al., 2021). In agile methods, emphasis primarily lies on flexibility and adaptability; thus, teams are able to avoid being distracted during industry changes.Although it is primarily used in software development, it has applications in various fields, including manufacturing and marketing (Dursun & Goker, 2022). Agile characteristically utilizes an armory of technical support tools, including project management software such as Jira, Trello, and Asana, that aid in incorporating team efforts and similar (Thesing et al., 2021). Usually, the costs of an average agile project will be medium, and they may go up according to the type of resources used during the project. Agile does not require project management professionals, but the teams that want to adopt it should have great competence in their problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
The lean method is ideal for projects aimed at efficiency and continuous improvement since it maximizes value while minimizing waste (Dursun & Goker, 2022). Although it originated in manufacturing, it has now been adapted for application in various areas, including services and healthcare. Technology support for lean projects, such as Kanban boards and lean project management software, is typically beneficial. Lean implementation costs vary, with long-term efficiency advantages weighed against initial setup and training costs. For lean efforts, formal project management experience is useful, but teams must also possess analytical skills, a commitment to waste removal, and a focus on process improvement.
The waterfall strategy takes a sequential, linear project management approach, requiring each phase to be completed before moving on to the next. It is widely used in engineering, manufacturing, and construction projects with rigorous requirements and little flexibility (Dursun & Goker, 2022). Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project are two examples of project planning and scheduling software that utilize waterfall development technology. Most of Waterfall’s expenditures are incurred upfront during the planning and design stages, making them relatively predictable. Waterfall requires thorough planning, documentation, and adherence to timetables; therefore, formal project management skills are needed.
Methodology Similarities and Differences Analysis
All three methodologies provide value to clients but in slightly different ways. Lean stresses creating value by optimizing procedures and eliminating waste (Kerzner, 2022). Waterfall focuses on delivering value at the end of the project’s lifecycle, and Agile emphasizes incremental value through iterative development cycles. They also recognize how important it is to solicit feedback from stakeholders or customers. The agile technique collects feedback iteratively and frequently through demonstrations during the development phase. Feedback in a waterfall process often occurs at the end of each step or phase. Lean leverages feedback to identify areas for process optimization and efficiency (Kerzner, 2022). All three techniques also emphasize cooperation within project teams. Agile encourages cross-functional teams to work closely together throughout the development process. Teamwork is required for both Waterfall and Lean. One of the core pillars of the Lean methodology is continuous improvement, which is also a component of the Agile methodology (Kerzner, 2022).
On the one hand, it is clear that each methodology has its strengths and shortcomings, thus making them fit in different types of projects and contexts. Agile suits dynamic environments with changing requirements best, whereas waterfall suits projects with exact scopes. The goal of lean is to achieve efficiency and decrease waste, which makes it perfect for process improvement projects (Kerzner, 2022). As a project manager, distinguishing between these approaches and using the most suitable one based on each project’s requirements and limitations is critical.
References
Dursun, M., & Goker, N. (2022). Evaluation of project management methodologies success factors using fuzzy cognitive map method: Waterfall, agile, and lean six Sigma cases. International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications in Engineering, 10(1), 35-43.
Kerzner, H. (2022). Project management metrics, KPIs, and dashboards: a guide to measuring and monitoring project performance. John Wiley & sons.
Thesing, T., Feldmann, C., & Burchardt, M. (2021). Agile versus waterfall project management: decision model for selecting the appropriate approach to a project. Procedia Computer Science, 181, 746-756.
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