PJM500 Module 7 Discussion
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School
Colorado State University, Global Campus**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
PJM 500
Subject
Information Systems
Date
Dec 18, 2024
Pages
2
Uploaded by SargentPheasant4684
The field of project management has undergone significant changes, with Agile methodologies increasingly overshadowing the traditional Waterfall approach. While Waterfall is well-suited for projects with clear requirements that are unlikely to change (Kerzner, 2022) and defined deliverables—especially those that do not require ongoing customer involvement or feedback—its rigid structure, fixed start and end dates, and linear progression often result in inefficiencies and misalignments in today’s fast-paced environments. Despite its advantages, such as a fixed budget that canhelp manage costs, there are compelling reasons to favor Agile over Waterfall.Agile offers exceptional flexibility, allowing teams to respond quickly to changing requirements. However, it’s important to recognize that not all projects need the same level of adaptability that Agile provides. Unlike Waterfall, which commits teams to decisions made at the beginning of the project, aimed at preventing changes in the deliverables (Kerzner, 2022), Agile supports iterative development, which is crucial in industries where customer needs and market conditions can shift quickly. It fosters collaboration between team members and stakeholders through regular check-ins and feedback loops, improving communication. In contrast, Waterfall’s separate phases can create obstacles that result in miscommunication and project failures.A key advantage of Agile is its focus on continuous improvement, with regular retrospectives and feedback enhancing quality and boosting team morale. In contrast, Waterfall’s rigid phases, where each step of project development has to be completed sequentially (Andrei et al., 2019), limit opportunities for reflection and adjustments until the project is complete, often resulting in costly mistakes. In contrast, Agile’s iterative approach allows for quicker delivery of components, enabling rapid responses to user feedback and market changes, while Waterfall’s lengthy upfront planning can hinder competitiveness.The value from going Agile comes from how it empowers teams to deliver increments quickly and often while continuously improving over short periods of time. It embraces change and always remains flexible, allowing teams to quickly shift to meet customer needs and demands (Rubio, 2022). Agile methodologies improve customer satisfaction by emphasizing collaboration and involvement throughout the project. This ensures the final product meets user needs, while Waterfall’s limited customer engagement can lead to products that fail to meet market demands.However, a hybrid approach can be useful in some situations. It combines Agile’s iterative process with Waterfall’s structured elements. A hybrid approach lets project procedures adjust to changing conditions and develop alongside the project and is useful when deliverables can be modularized, or
when there are deliverables that can be developed by different project teams (Project Management Institute, 2021). Strict regulations often require Waterfall's structured processes in industries like healthcare and finance. A hybrid model combines Agile flexibility with compliance requirements and is beneficial for large projects needing extensive documentation. Organizationstransitioning from Waterfall to Agile can start with a hybrid approach, gradually adopting Agile practices as teams adjust. This model provides predictability while allowing flexibility, enabling projects to begin with clear requirements and evolve as needed.In conclusion, Agile offers clear benefits over Waterfall, including greater flexibility, better teamwork, higher customer satisfaction, and quicker delivery. While a hybrid approach can work in some situations, fully adoptingAgile is a strong choice. Organizations that embrace Agile will be better prepared to succeed in today’s fast-changing environment, meeting and exceeding stakeholder expectations.References:Andrei, B.-A., Casu-Pop, A.-C., Gheorghe, S.-C., & Boiangiu, C.-A. (2019). A Study on Using Waterfall and Agile Methods in Software Project Management.Journal of Information Systems & Operations Management,13(1), 125.Kerzner, H. (2022). Project management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling(13thed.). John Wiley & Sons.Mauricio Rubio. (2022).The Mini Book of Agile : Everything You Really Need to Know About Agile, Agile Project Management and Agile Delivery: Vol. [First edition]. Packt Publishing.Project Management Institute. (2021).A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition and The Standard for Project Management (ENGLISH): Vol. Seventh edition. Project Management Institute.