Key Project Management Methodologies – PRINCE2, PER, NPI, RAD, Scrum and Waterfall

Key Project Management Methodologies – PRINCE2, PER, NPI, RAD, Scrum and Waterfall
By Michelle Symonds

When you invest in project management training you will become familiar with key project management methodologies. Learning about these methodologies will enable you to organize your project effectively, using processes that focus your strategy and enable you to achieve better results. Here are a just a few key PM methodologies:

Waterfall

This methodology is well known in most industries and is particularly popular within the construction industry. There are several different versions of this process with the original version including these key phases:

• Elements stipulation
• Design
• AKA or Coding
• Integration
• AKA Validation
• Installing
• Maintaining

PER (Packaged Enable Re-engineering)

In the most modern PM courses this methodology may not be referenced, but it is still commonly researched because it follows a conventional and traditional avenue to project management. The lengthy papers on the methodology explain in depth theories and applications which could be implemented in conjunction with other processes.

NPI (New Product Introduction)

NPI is not considered to be an entire methodology because it lacks a full process (and steps) to lead the PM to project success, but is still a useful process that businesses and companies use in relation to projects involving products.

Scrum

Scrum is a completely different type of methodology (in comparison to more traditional types) that does not use traditional terminology or standard PM framework. It tends to work within projects that are not greatly restricted by budget or timeframe and calls for a completely dedicated team rather than members who may be working on various projects at the same time. The project manager in this process would be called a ‘Scrum Master’ whose main responsibilities are maintaining focus within the team, removing any distractions and encouraging and facilitating good communication within the team.

The process involves 30 day cycles labeled ‘sprints’ with ‘scrum sessions’ scheduled in every month. The targets and deadlines are broken down into 30 day schedules which means hugely complex projects or teams struggling to organize their workload can benefit from the process greatly.

RAD (Rapid Applications Development)

The software development sector uses this PM methodology frequently as it uses collective techniques and modeling to determine the client’s needs and to successfully create and refine the ultimate system. The methodology uses a continuous series of models and techniques within the project processes. Although some managers do not favor the original methodology because they feel the original processes are not thorough enough to create complex functionality, newer versions do resolve these issues which mean it’s become a much more efficient and usable methodology in recent years.

PRINCE2

PRINCE2 is probably the most well known ‘term’ used in relation to project management. It is the dominant standard in the public sector and a methodology at the same time. Rather than a recommended ‘good practice’ or strategy, PRINCE2 is recognized by the UK Government (and used by them) and is used worldwide extensively. Whether PRINCE2 is the right approach for your vaporization or not really depends on your industry but backed up by effective project management training and the right PM framework it can be very successful.

Michelle Symonds is a qualified PRINCE2 Project Manager and believes that the right project management training can transform a good project manager into a great project manager and is essential for a successful outcome to any project.

There is a wide range of formal and informal training courses now available that include online learning and podcasts as well as more traditional classroom courses from organizations such as Parallel Project Training.