Anyone undertaking project management training will quickly realise that there are a plethora of project management methodologies out there.
The methodology you choose will depend on the type and scale of your project, the resources you have at your disposal and the type of organisation you work for, but here are our top 10 project management methodologies.
1. PRINCE 2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is a project management methodology used in the public sector which can be applied to projects of any scale. It is a process orientated approach with each process having inputs and outputs, tasks and activities to complete.
2. The Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Project Management Body Of Knowledge guide (PMBOK) outlines a process which includes integration; project scope; time; cost; quality; human resources; communications; risks and procurement.
3. The System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a generic approach to project management which includes needs analysis; concept; design; training; delivery and support.
4. CORBIT – Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology – is a relatively new methodology. The process moves from planning and organisation; acquisition and implementation; delivery and support; to monitoring and evaluation.
5. The PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) is a basic approach to project management, also referred to as the Deming Cycle or the Deming Wheel. The PDCA cycle has four phases: identifying and analysing the problem; developing and testing solutions; measuring the effectiveness of the preferred solution and finding ways to improving it; and implementing the solution.
6. Six Sigma uses statistics to improve processes and minimise defects in a product or service.
7. Lean Six Sigma is primarily concerned with speed and quality by reducing waste and cutting out unnecessary steps.
8. The Waterfall model is used in software development and comprises seven steps, each of which is dependent on the step before. The stages are: requirement gathering; design; implementation; integration; testing; software or process installation; and system maintenance.
9. Agile Management relies on customer involvement and empowering your team to make decisions quickly to implement changes.
10. The Rational Unified Process (RUP) allows you to customise your project, manage risk and requirements, and continuously verify quality and control changes.
