Project Management Methodologies
Project management is a vital part of any business or organisation. Without it, projects can be easily derailed and important deadlines can be missed. This is why it is so important to understand the different project management methodologies available, and how they can be used to maximize success. This article will outline the different methodologies commonly used in project management and provide a brief overview of each.
Agile:
Agile is an iterative and incremental development methodology in which the project team works in short bursts of activity over a period of time. The primary benefit of agile project management is the ability to quickly respond to changes and feedback in order to improve the product or service. It also provides a framework for setting goals, balancing work loads and having clear communication between team members. The agile methodology has become more popular in recent years due to its adaptability and ability to be used on projects of all sizes.
Scrum:
Scrum is a subset of the agile methodology and is focused on developing products or services through collaborative team efforts. Scrum teams are made up of cross-functional members who collaborate to deliver results. The main goal of scrum is to use feedback from customers to rapidly adapt the product or service over a series of short iterations. In this sense, it is very similar to agile, but its emphasis is more on the development side of product or service delivery.
Waterfall:
The waterfall methodology is the traditional way of project management and involves the sequential completion of project stages. The process consists of a series of clearly defined steps which must be followed in order. This includes an analysis phase, design phase, development phase, testing phase and finally deployment. The primary benefit of the waterfall methodology is that it provides structure and a clear understanding of what needs to be accomplished. It is commonly used for larger projects where tight deadlines need to be adhered to.
Kanban:
Kanban is a visual project management methodology which uses boards and cards to help teams monitor their progress. A kanban board is typically split into three columns, to-do, in progress and done, which provide a visual representation of the project’s flow. This helps teams get insights into what is already finished and what tasks still need to be done. Kanban is often used in combination with other project management methodologies such as Scrum or Agile.
Six Sigma:
Six Sigma is a process improvement methodology which uses data-driven analysis and problem-solving to improve processes. Six Sigma is focused on reducing defects in products and services. It is used within organisations to help them identify areas of improvement, visually map processes and measure performance against key metrics. Six Sigma is a popular project management methodology due to its focus on quality and cost-effectiveness.
Conclusion
Project management methodologies provide structure and guidance to teams so that tasks can be completed efficiently. Different methodologies have varying strengths which means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It is important to do research and understand the different project management methodologies available, in order to decide which approach is best for a given project.
