Previous posts covered a variety of project management techniques and when you should use them. We’ll go over some of the most common ones here, and we’ll also recommend a few articles that can help you learn more about them. In our future posts, you’ll learn more about these methods.
This post will help you choose the best project management methodology for your project. These are the most commonly used project management methods:
Waterfall
An old-school approach entails breaking a project into its parts and completing each in order. Team members’ tasks are assigned to them by the project manager. The quality criteria are clearly defined at the beginning of a Waterfall project.
Agile
Rather than working in long blocks of time, agile teams work in short bursts, iterating on their ideas. Phases and tasks can occur simultaneously or sequentially. All of the work in an Agile project is shared by all team members. There are several different Agile frameworks, including Scrum and Kanban.
Scrum
For complex projects and products, the Scrum framework is an Agile framework that emphasizes collaboration, accountability, iterative development, and a continuous delivery process. A Scrum Master leads small, cross-functional teams to complete work in short Sprints with a list of deliverables completed by the end of each Sprint.
Kanban
The use of Kanban boards or charts provides visual feedback on the status of the work being done in an Agile manner. Project managers use Kanban to organize their teams’ work by putting sticky notes or cards on a physical or digital Kanban board and labeling them as “To do,” “In progress,” or “Done.”
Lean
Eight wasteful practices are eliminated using the 5S quality tool in Lean manufacturing. By Lean’s guiding principles, you can accomplish more with fewer resources by identifying and eliminating waste. Using a Kanban scheduling system, Lean implements a more efficient production process.
Six Sigma
Six Sigma aims to eliminate variation by enforcing consistency in the quality processes used. DMAIC stands for “define, measure, analyze, improve, and control” in the Six Sigma method, which follows a process-improvement approach known as Six Sigma.
Lean Six Sigma
It’s a blend of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. Projects that aim to save money, improve quality, and move through the process quickly frequently use Lean and Six Sigma. In addition, Lean Six Sigma is an excellent tool for tackling difficult or dangerous problems. The 5S quality tool, the DMAIC process, and Kanban boards are all part of this methodology.
Even though there are different ways to manage projects, they all require communication and cooperation between different teams and aim to finish projects on time and under budget.
Finding the best way to manage a project
Many choices could work well for your project when it comes to methodologies. The approach you choose to implement for each project will be different because projects and the organizations you will carry them out vary greatly. It’s common for companies to use approaches and frameworks to meet the project’s objectives more quickly. It’s possible to combine these methods with others, depending on your project’s requirements.
It takes time and practice to find the best approach for the project, the organization, and the team. We’ll talk about picking a project management approach in the next post.
Key Takeaways
Project managers use a variety of project management techniques to manage their teams’ work. The Scrum framework is an Agile framework that emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and iterative development. Kanban boards or charts provide visual feedback on the status of the work being done by teams. Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC are all good choices for managing a project. In order to choose the best project management methodology, you might have to spend some time and practice to find the best fit for your project. It’s possible to combine these methods with others, depending on your project’s requirements.
