Summary
Project Management involves guidelines, principles, concepts, and processes by which projects are developed and ultimately completed, from initial concept to closure. This includes factors such as identifying goals and work tasks, managing stakeholders, coordinating resources, managing timelines, and working within a budget. Waterfall, agile, and hybrid are the primary management styles, each offering unique approaches and processes by which projects are conducted. Understanding these styles within the context of the 12 principles of the PMBOK 7th edition, can help project managers choose the most effective methodology for their projects, so they meet goals and provide value to the customer, on time and on budget.
Before You Start
Project Management emphasizes the importance of being meticulous and deliberate in all facets of a project, no matter the scope, timeline, budget, or complexity. Good plans generally lead to good results. This document serves as an overview to Project Management as a process, guided by principles, tools, and checkpoints to help a project manager deliver a successful result to the customer. If a successful outcome to your project is important to you, then this document is a good starting place.
Steps
Projects may or may not progress through a series of pre-planned steps, all depending on the adopted approach and the uniqueness of the project. Up through the sixth edition of the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK), project management was viewed as a series of discrete processes that occurred across five phases-- initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing, or what is known as Waterfall: Start at the top (beginning) and move rather predictably down to the bottom (closing). Since then, other approaches have come into place. For instance, Agile embraces a more dynamic, flexible, recursive approach to a project, whereby all facets of a project as not pre-planned before executing, but rather evolve as the project moves through sprints, or mini goals and steps. A Hybrid approach, to no great surprise, embodies a unique blend of Waterfall and Agile techniques. The recently released PMBOK seventh edition embraces a principles-based approach over a process-based approach. In essence, the guidance now is for project managers to follow twelve guiding principles within their projects rather than follow a more rigidly ordered and prescriptive set of processes.
In this section, we first present the five phases of project management. Next, we present the new12 guiding principles along with how these principles may guide each of the three main project methods. We suggest viewing the information as insights for consideration rather than prescriptive steps to follow.
Five Phases of Project Management
- Initiation: This phase involves defining the project at a high level. Key activities include developing the project charter, identifying key stakeholders, and setting the project's objectives and scope.
- Planning: In this phase, detailed planning is done to guide the project team. This includes defining the project scope, timeline, resources, and risks. The project plan serves as the foundation for successful project execution.
- Execution: This phase involves carrying out the project plan to produce the project's deliverables. The project team works on the tasks and activities defined in the project plan.
- Monitoring and Control: During this phase, the project's progress is tracked and measured to ensure it stays on track with the project plan. This involves monitoring project performance, identifying any issues, and making necessary adjustments.
- Closure: This final phase involves completing the project and handing over the deliverables to the client. Key activities include finalizing all project activities, obtaining client acceptance, and conducting a post-project review to capture lessons learned.
12 Guiding Principles of Project Management (PMBOK, 7th ed.) and Implications for Waterfall, Agile, and Hybrid Project Methods
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Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward:
- Waterfall: Emphasizes thorough documentation and careful planning to manage resources responsibly.
- Agile: Focuses on continuous improvement and respect for team members' contributions.
- Hybrid: Combines detailed planning with iterative improvements to ensure responsible resource management.
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Create a Collaborative Project Team Environment:
- Waterfall: Collaboration is structured and follows a hierarchical approach.
- Agile: Promotes self-organizing teams and collaborative decision-making.
- Hybrid: Uses structured collaboration with agile team dynamics to foster a collaborative environment.
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Effectively Engage with Stakeholders:
- Waterfall: Stakeholder engagement is primarily at the beginning and end of the project.
- Agile: Continuous stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
- Hybrid: Initial stakeholder engagement followed by ongoing involvement.
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Focus on Value:
- Waterfall: Value is delivered at the end of the project, meeting predefined requirements.
- Agile: Value is delivered incrementally with each iteration.
- Hybrid: Combines end-goal focus with incremental delivery to maximize value.
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Recognize, Evaluate, and Respond to System Interactions:
- Waterfall: System interactions are evaluated during the planning phase.
- Agile: Continuous evaluation of system interactions throughout the project.
- Hybrid: Initial evaluation with continuous monitoring and adjustments.
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Demonstrate Leadership Behaviors:
- Waterfall: Leadership is often hierarchical and directive.
- Agile: Leadership is collaborative and supportive, encouraging team autonomy.
- Hybrid: Balances directive leadership with collaborative support.
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Tailor Based on Context:
- Waterfall: Tailoring is limited due to the structured nature of the methodology.
- Agile: Highly adaptable, allowing for extensive tailoring based on project needs.
- Hybrid: Combines structured planning with adaptable practices for tailored solutions.
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Build Quality into Processes and Deliverables:
- Waterfall: Quality is built through thorough planning and documentation.
- Agile: Quality is integrated through continuous testing and feedback.
- Hybrid: Combines thorough planning with continuous quality checks.
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Navigate Complexity:
- Waterfall: Complexity is managed through detailed planning and control.
- Agile: Embraces complexity with iterative cycles and adaptability.
- Hybrid: Uses detailed planning and iterative adjustments to navigate complexity.
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Optimize Risk Responses:
- Waterfall: Risk management is conducted during the planning phase.
- Agile: Continuous risk management throughout the project.
- Hybrid: Initial risk assessment with ongoing risk management.
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Embrace Adaptability and Resiliency:
- Waterfall: Less adaptable, with changes being more difficult to implement.
- Agile: Highly adaptable, with changes easily incorporated into iterations.
- Hybrid: Balances structured approach with adaptability for resilience.
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Enable Change to Achieve the Envisioned Future State:
- Waterfall: Change is managed through formal change control processes.
- Agile: Change is embraced and integrated continuously.
- Hybrid: Combines formal change control with continuous adaptation.
Additional Resources
A variety of resources on Project Management methods, guidelines, and tools are available online. For instance: