Project Management Methodologies: How Do They Compare?

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For this project management methodology comparison, we will cover the following:

• Agile Methodology
• Waterfall Methodology
• Agile Versus Waterfall
• Change Management
• Risk Management
• Quality Management
• PRINCE2®
• Six Sigma/Lean Six Sigma

Certainly some of the methods listed here are obviously comparable, Agile/Waterfall and Six Sigma/Lean Six Sigma. Still, experts hold seminars, debates, and discussions of great length on whether the United Kingdom’s PRINCE2 or Agile are the same or vastly different.

For the project manager, however, is one methodology better than the other or can you get to a successful completion of your project using any one of them?

Though Agile was first utilized in IT projects, the bottom line on Agile methodology according to a simplified method I wrote is, “using the best process through empowered teams, customer involvement, and the ability to analyze and quickly control changes to the project scope at inception and throughout the lifecycle of the project.”

Whew, what does that even mean? Basically, using Agile management in a project helps you define the project clearly with stakeholders and team input, sprints or iterations assigned to a small groups, effective project monitoring, immediate change instead of constant review, along with constant communication throughout the project. Essentially, in my article Agile for Dummies: Making Sense of It All, a process at a auto service center that took 12 steps to complete was re-evaluated using Agile, cutting the process down to only 4 steps. Simply put, Agile cuts project bottlenecks.

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The completion of a Waterfall project literally lands in the client’s lap. Critics of the sequenced based Waterfall method claim it doesn’t allow for change control if something is wrong during the project process. If team A passes to team B and then to team C and team C finds a problem from team A, it’s hard to go back. Still, because of it’s linear approach, some prefer the Waterfall method if good client input is achieved early on.

In both the Agile and Waterfall methods, an iteration or module is not passed on until it’s done and experts will tell you in Agile and Waterfall that "done means done." The true difference between the two is that in Agile projects, evaluation of a module is present before it is passed along. In Waterfall, there is no stopping and the project flow passes along and along with hopes of a good outcome. Many project managers have their druthers about which is best. However, in Waterfall, if end-testing doesn’t go well, you better think about starting all over again. Read more on Agile Vs. Waterfall right here on Bright Hub.

Continue on to the next page to learn more about change management methodology, risk management, quality control, PRINCE2, Six Sigma, and Lean Six Sigma.