As a project manager, success to you would no doubt mean completing a project and meeting your company’s or client’s desired goals. Project management methodologies go a long way in helping you achieve success with efficient work processes. In this article, we go over some of the top project management methodologies that there are. First, let’s define what project management methodologies are.
What Are Project Management Methodologies?
Project management methodologies are structures that help you manage your project in the best possible way. They are sets of rules and regulations that help to guide you while performing a project. These structures and rule-sets will help bring out desired results while optimizing available time. They are, thus, a very important tool to organizations, teams, and groups. Having seen what project management methodologies are, let us see 10 such methodologies that would lead to your projects being successful.
10 Project Management Methodologies for Successful Projects
The following project management methodologies samples will help you complete projects with success:
- Agile Methodology
- Adaptive Project Framework Methodology
- Lean Methodology
- Waterfall Methodology
- Scrum Methodology
- Kanban Methodology
- Extreme Programming Methodology
- Critical Path Methodology
- Critical Chain Methodology
- Package Enabled Re-engineering
1.    Agile Methodology
This technique involves breaking the execution of a project into a few stages. It is used significantly for projects that involve joint efforts. This project methodology can be said not to have a last stage, as it keeps on changing over the long run. It is popular for its adaptability and versatility.
If goals are made for a long arrangement project, then Agile is a good project management methodology for you. Mastering and implementing the Agile methodology would help you ensure that all areas of your project are given attention to.
2.    Adaptive Project Framework (APF) Methodology
This methodology is similar to the Agile methodology. It helps teams and users determine their risks and prepare for any unforeseen occurrence in the course of their projects. APF usage is largely dependent on the client. The client has control over the adjustment of the project, which includes his or her involvement in the project build-up.
The APF methodology can also be very flexible. It allows for an assessment of the balance between the staff, its processes, and the technology involved. This project management methodology helps users generate an excellent structure for the project’s execution. It, however, is liable to losing a lot of control in the long run as the client is given so much power.
3.    Lean Methodology
Lean methodology is also called the improvement cycle. It is a high-speed strategy, in which projects are finished as fast as could be expected to get criticisms at the earliest opportunity. This empowers quick enhancements to the worth of the client. Lean is an approach to expanding the endeavors and assets made by the project team, toward making an ideal incentive for the clients.
4.    Waterfall Methodology
This is a linear development sequence that flows like a waterfall through all its five stages. The five major stages are illustrated in the image above. In the Waterfall method, the major action that builds up the success of the project is the initial work done. This includes advance preparations for every action you take. And it makes your project outcome more accurate and efficient. Unlike the Agile model, the Waterfall model has a final stop and does not change continually.
5.    Scrum Methodology
This project management methodology works on five major values, which include; commitment, courage, focus, openness and respect. When you apply the Scrum methodology, you are bound to deliver value to the customer, through the development period of the projects. Scrum is very flexible, adaptable, and effective. Its main aim as a project management methodology is to satisfy the client with clarity and transparency in terms of software development, as well as on sales and management. Based on the said Scrum values, this project management methodology puts in a whole lot of time and effort.
6.    Kanban Methodology
The Kanban project methodology is simply used to reduce waste and inefficiency while managing a project. It also helps to maximize team effort by reducing work in progress. Kanban is flexible and manages its structures in terms of a Kanban board, which works with each production phase and is simple to understand.
7.    Extreme Programming Methodology
As its name gives away, the Extreme Programming method is mostly concerned with extreme programming and software development. This project management style aids small teams in producing high-quality software. The process involves a variety of actions such as coding, testing, listening, and designing.
8. Critical Path Methodology
The Critical Path method is a project management technique for big planning that works in stages. It helps teams to work with time and complete projects ahead of schedule. The primary purpose of this strategy is to identify critical and non-critical jobs and to complete them on time. Thus, this strategy becomes useful in preventing project scheduling issues and tense situations. With the Critical Path methodology, teams can set realistic time frames and accurately complete their projects.Â
9. Critical Chain Methodology
As the diagram above shows, a relationship exists between the critical path and critical chain methodology. This latter project management style is for you if you have limited resources to complete a project. Critical jobs are identified early and handled as quickly as feasible using this strategy. The approach involves buffers, which aid in dealing with any unforeseen task or situation that may arise.
The primary goal of the Critical Chain project management method is to prevent project delays that are caused by unplanned events.
10. Package-Enabled Reengineering (PER) Methodology
Package-Enabled Reengineering is a project management process that helps businesses in the redesign of new products and procedures. It focuses on productively implementing company changes, whether by upgrading frameworks or reorienting employees.
PER is used by development-driven organizations to help them stay on track with their development obligations. This allows the business to more easily modify and respond to changing economic realities and client needs.
The PER method is utilized in significant system updates and helps with giving your project a more complete look with an improved user interface.
Why Use Project Management Methodologies?
By adopting a project management method, teams and organizations will be able to –
- Adapt to new challenges and make use of limited resources to produce a good project
- Gain experience, especially for project managers, on how to perfect their project management strategies
- Increase the chances of a successful project
- Remove risks that can impede or even end a project indefinitely
- Increase their productivity rate (the more project teams frequently use project management methodologies, the more successful their projects are bound to be).
Bottom Line
Project management methodologies are free to use and easy to access on the web. No doubt, there are many other project methodologies such as the PRINCE2, six sigma etc., not mentioned here. However, the methodologies discussed in this article are key project management methodologies that are efficient in bringing about a successful project.
