Agile vs. Traditional Project Management A QUICK COMPARISON
Project Management Methodologies
PROVIDES A STRUCTURED
FRAMEWORK IN WHICH TO OPERATE
1. Initiation 2. Planning
Traditional Approach
3. Execution 4. Tracking 5. Closing
1. Initiation
ESTABLISH OBJECTIVES, STAKEHOLDERS, DELIVERABLES, AND CONSTRAINTS OF COST AND TIME.
2. Planning
ESTABLISH A BASELINE WHICH ITEMIZES ALL ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES; AND ESTIMATES MATERIALS AND TIME SCALES.
3. Execution
PERFORM THE PLANNED ACTIVITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT ESSENTIAL WORK IS DONE AND THE GOAL IS ACHIEVED.
4. Tracking
MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF EACH ACTIVITY AND MODIFY THE SCHEDULE AS NECESSARY.
5. Closing
DELIVERABLES ARE PRODUCED AND THE PROJECT IS EVALUATED TO LEARN LESSONS FOR THE NEXT TIME.
Agile Approach THE SAME TRADITIONAL STEPS ARE PERFORMED, BUT MULTIPLE ITERATIONS OR RELEASES ARE USED.
ITERATIONS / RELEASES
Initiation
Planning
Closing
Execution
Tracking
Final Closing
Agile Approach THE SAME TRADITIONAL STEPS ARE PERFORMED, BUT MULTIPLE ITERATIONS OR RELEASES ARE USED.
EACH ITERATION/RELEASE HAS ITS OWN SET OF GOALS, ITS OWN DELIVERABLES AND CLOSING PROCESSES. WHEN ALL ITERATIONS/RELEASES ARE COMPLETES, THE FINAL CLOSING PROCESSES CAN BE PERFORMED
How to choose the right path? TRADITIONAL
AGILE
When a project is relatively familiar
When dealing with unfamiliar territory
The goal and solution are easy to identify
The solution itself is unknown
There are several possible outcomes
The scope and deliverables are clear