Project Management Methodology

Questions: 1.Definition of Methodology and Roles of methodologies in project management. 2 Comparison and contrast of selected two Methodologies (Waterfall and Agile). 3Project Life Cycle (PLC) and relation of Agile and Waterfall with PL. Answers: 1. Definition Methodology is a framework which is used by the project managers to plan, design, implement and achieve the project objectives (Spundak, 2014). A project methodology highlights the priorities of the project that may serve the objectives of the project. Roles of Methodologies in Project Management The standards or steps involved in the methodology serves as the assets for the project management team (Bongiovanni et al., 2015). The goals and planned results are achieved by the project managers through proper scheduling of the process needed to satisfy the goals. The main objectives of the methodologies are to provide the generalized methods and guidelines for planning the project systematically. The Waterfall and Agile methodology also plays a significant role in managing a project (Kerzner, 2013). Role of Waterfall model in project management: Waterfall model is utilized to understand the objectives of any project. The rigidity of the model provides the project proper deliverables and review of each stage (Burke, 2013). As there is no overlapping of stages in waterfall model the stages are completed at the first attempt (Schwalbe, 2015). Role of Agile model in project management: Agile model ensures the incremental aspect of the project. This model supports small amount of increment on each stage involved in the project. This increment is measured with respect to the functionality of the previous stage (Spundak, 2014). The Agile framework is mainly used to serve the critical situations within the project. 2. Comparison This assignment is focusing on the impact of methodologies on the project management. The Agile and waterfall methodologies are compared and contrasted in this assignment to evaluate their efficiency while analyzing the project. Subjects Waterfall methodology Agile methodology Definition This methodology is the sequential design process that follows the construction and manufacturing workflows. Agile methodology follows the incremental approach rather than the sequential design process (Kerzner, 2013). Steps Waterfall methodology follows conception, analysis, initiation, design, testing, construction and maintenance (Bongiovanni et al., 2015) Agile framework provides small steps for building project priorities and in the second step the framework provides the developmental perspective of the project. Advantages This methodology put stress on the record keeping It specifies the expectations of the clients Agile framework allows the project manager to make changes after the initial planning (Burke, 2013). Agile methodologies keep the project updated. Disadvantages Initial requirements are mandatory in this methodology (Spundak, 2014). Preliminary changes cannot be done in this methodology. There are chances of getting the project of over budget. As changes can be done any step of the project, final step can be decided. Agile methodology is more flexible than the waterfall methodology, as the requirements are more clearly met in this methodology (Marle et al., 2013). Similarities and differences Similarities: Goals: Both the framework for the project management shares same goals. These models provide the proper steps required for managing the project. Principles: There are certain principles, which have to be followed by the each of these above mentioned methodologies (pundak, 2014). These are: initial planning, sequential movements, reviews of the each member of the project etc. Differences: Waterfall methodology is the linear and sequential process for managing a project. This model represents every individual steps required for the development of the project, though there is a disadvantages that this model does not allow any changes in between the initial set up (Burke, 2013). Agile framework for the project management involves the incremental perspective of the project (Schwalbe, 2015). This approach allows the changes in the project in each step, as there is not preliminary set for the steps. 3. Project Life Cycle (PLC) and Relation of Agile and Waterfall with PLC The project life cycle involves several steps for planning the project: initiation stage, planning stage, implementation stage and closing stage. The time span taken for completing all the stages is called the project life cycle. The Agile and Waterfall model of project management also involves following process: conception, initiation, analysis, design, construction, testing and deployment. These steps are totally similar with the Agile and Waterfall model of project management (Kerzner, 2013). The core difference between the Waterfall and Agile is that, as Agile provide facility to change the stages during the project management (Marle et al., 2013). Waterfall framework provides a fix structure for the management of project. References Bongiovanni, A., Colotti, G., Liguori, G. L., Di Carlo, M., Digilio, F. A., Lacerra, G., ... Kisslinger, A. (2015). Applying Quality and Project Management methodologies in biomedical research laboratories: a public research networks case study.Accreditation and Quality Assurance,20(3), 203-213. Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and control techniques.New Jersey, USA. Kerzner, H. R. (2013).Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons, pp- 100-600. Marle, F., Vidal, L. A., Bocquet, J. C. (2013). Interactions-based risk clustering methodologies and algorithms for complex project management.International Journal of Production Economics,142(2), 225-234. Schwalbe, K. (2015).Information technology project management. Cengage Learning. Spundak, M. (2014). Mixed agile/traditional project management methodologyreality or illusion?.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,119, 939-948.