Project Management

Methodologies and Frameworks

Waterfall

Approximately half of the projects I’ve lead have utilized the traditional project management methodology and is very documentation heavy. This is the preferred method in regulatory-heavy environments or when an iterative approach is not feasible.

The traditional project management approach that encompasses the five stages of the project management life cycle: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitor & Control, and Close.

Example documentation includes: Project Management Plan, Project Charter, Work Breakdown Structure, Dependencies List, Scope, Schedule, Cost, Quality, Resource, Communications, Risk, Procurement, and Stakeholder Management Plans.

Agile

An iterative approach to project management that welcomes change by focusing on incremental delivery through continuous collaboration among the cross-functional team. This is my preferred methodology because it allows for pieces of the project to be implemented and tested in phases. Doing so reduces project risk and allows for continuous delivery and value to the client.

I often use this methodology in pipe organ restoration and IT projects to reduce downtime.

Parts of an Agile project include: User Stories, Sprints, Standup Meetings, Sprint Planning, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective, and Backlog Grooming.

Scrum

A framework and philosophy of Agile that values: Openness, Commitment, Courage, Focus, and Respect.

In Scrum the team is lead by a Product Owner who has the vision for the project and speaks for the customer and the Scrum Master who facilitates the team’s work and removes impediments.

Key elements in Scrum include: Epics, User Stories, Backlogs, Daily Scrum, Sprints, and Retrospectives

Kanban

A framework, often used in Agile, that uses boards to show the progression of a project to help prioritize tasks and promote transparency. Typically there are three sections: To Do, Doing, Done

The board limits the Work in Progress section in order to maximize efficiency and help prevent log jams. This promotes better communication among teams and improves efficiency.