Project Management Methodologies

It has become very crucial that a project manager has to be aware of the various project management methodologies, their pros and cons before restricting himself to one particular methodology. Though there are a handful of methodologies proposed, we present the ones that have been widely accepted in this article. These methodologies are the basic methodologies as well and the project manager is supposed to have a good knowledge of these by default.

The Waterfall model
In software engineering, the waterfall model is the traditional method used in the development life cycle of a system. As the name suggests, in the waterfall model, there is a flow from one phase to another, where, in each phase a desired outcome is achieved. Though this method is rigid, it is simple to implement. This model allows for modularization and promises the delivery of the project on time. However, once started there is no backtracking possible. This proves to be disadvantageous in situations where a possible fault is detected during the testing stage. This model is best suited for small, simple and inexpensive projects. Most of the people nowadays prefer the alternate available methodologies to the waterfall model.

The Spiral model
The spiral model is seen as an extension of the waterfall model. It is best suited for projects that are relatively complex and expensive. This method introduces the concept of prototyping. The steps involved in this model are presented briefly:

• Upon the definition of the new system requirements, an initial design is created for the system. This is said to be the first prototype of the system and usually provides an approximate picture of what the product might look like.
• The second prototype is evolved by evaluating the first prototype for its strengths and weaknesses, defining the requirements, planning and designing the prototype, and finally, constructing and testing the same.
• This prototype is subjected to evaluation as the first prototype and this process is iterated until we arrive at a final refined prototype.
• The actual system is built upon this refined prototype.

The Rapid Application Development (RAD) model
The RAD model adopts the concept of object oriented programming that facilitates software reuse. This model aims at the rapid delivery of the product which is of a higher quality. The steps involved include gathering requirements using focus groups, designing the prototypes and testing the same, reusing the component thus created and have a maintenance team to periodically check the accuracy of the product. Java and C++ are the programming languages employed that help in the development of this model.

Dynamic Systems Development Model (DSDM)
The Dynamic Systems Development Model is perceived as the evolution of the preceding Rapid Application Development model. It believes that no software component can be flawless the first time it is built. The principles of this approach include giving high importance to the user requirement, making the user actively participate in the development process, on-time delivery of products frequently, employing recursive development strategies to narrow the accuracy of the solution provided, testing the components independently and in cooperation, and maintaining a healthy relation with the stakeholder.

Adaptive Project model
The Adaptive Project model believes in the philosophy that the scope of the project is subjective to variations and the client could capitalize on this by changing the project toward a direction that provides him the maximum benefit upon examining the conditions in various iterations. This approach promises a healthy client involvement, frequent incremental outcomes and a continuous process of introspection and questioning.

There are numerous other methodologies most of which are an extension of the methodologies explained above. As a project manager, a person has to be well informed about the various techniques involved and possess a knowledge good enough to decide what methodology to adopt and where in the project.