Project Management Methodologies
Methodologies Overview | Agile Project Management | Key Project Management Standards
Methodologies Overview
There are many project management methodologies, frameworks and standards to be found by those who care to look. The benefits that these methodologies provide for projects and the people involved in projects includes:
- standardisation of process
- reduction of variability in process
- efficiency
- increased chance of delivery to budget, scope, schedule, & quality
- faster orientation for new resources
Since projects are planned and organised process driven activities any reduction in variability of process provides efficiency benefits. People operate better when they know what to do and what to expect in any given situation. A project management methodology that is known and used within the organisation can assist people in getting things done. When you do not have to work out what process step comes next you can devote your energy to working out the content of the next process step. Thus methodologies are valuable in moving people from 'what' to 'how' to execute.
However, many project management methodologies are very focused on defining 'what' to do and they give little guidance on the most challenging area of managing projects - getting people to do what is necessary to achieve the project goals. The important thing to note about methodologies is that they are only as useful as the people using them. As Grady Booch once put it, "a fool with a tool is still a fool".
Agile Project Management
A change in project management for web development has emerged over the past few years with agile and eXtreme project management. This has its origins in the Agile Manifesto, which was published in 2001. This was a rejection of traditional the waterfall method for developing software. This more iterative approach to software development requires a different approach to project management. With less up front documentation of business requirements and more prototyping and communication, this approach actually requires more consistent project management to ensure effective intra-team communication. The key thing is that we should not be slaves to a particular project management methodology> Instead we ought to take from them what is useful and relevant to the project and its environment and culture. One particular agile method which I find useful is Scrum.
Key Project Management Standards
Various international organisations have developed standards, methodologies and competency models related to project management, key groups are listed below.
- Project Management Institute (PMI) - home of PMBOK
- Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM)
- Office of Government Commerce (OGC) - home of PRINCE2
- PM Forum - Standards Overview
"Methodology gives those with no ideas something to do."
- Source: Mason Cooley
