This is an excellent article discussing the two most common project management methods: traditional or waterfall versus agile. However, I do disagree with the statement that “Agile Project Management, as Traditional Project Management, can be used in any kind of setting.” To me, some projects are more appropriate for one method over another. For example, if a company is implementing an ERP or building a new railroad, it is important that the completion of Phase 1 achieves some purpose, such as running the new ERP for Finance or enabling a train to run service from Station A to B. For these large and complex projects, traditional project management approach is better when the scope and requirements are well defined. But once the foundation (or new platform) is established, then agile may work better for subsequent phases – for example, to improve the signal system or adding new reporting for the ERP system. For projects in which the scope is ever changing or when requirements is incredibly difficult to determine, agile project management is likely a better approach. The flexible and incremental approach encourages experimentation and taking risk. After all, failing small is a lot better than failing all together.
Te Wu’s comment on Anna-Marie Yritys article titled Why Your Projects Fail and Suggestions for Improvement (see below).
Anna-Marie Yritys at LinkedIn writes: Are you a project manager whose projects have failed more often than succeeded? Well, congratulate yourself for still having the title project manager, because if you had participated in The American Apprentice, Mr. Trump would already have fired you. No hard feelings though – it is nothing personal, it is only business, citing Mr. Trump.
And, to comfort you: you are most probably not alone with the problem, since most projects actually do fail, due to a number of reasons at the core of which are poor requirements, a poor scope definition (poor planning) from the beginning AND communication problems.
A project, according to the Project Management Institute, is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. Furthermore, a project usually has a definite beginning and an end. The target has been met once the project´s objectives have been met, or when the need for the project ceases to exist. Projects can last for years, even decades, depending upon their social, economic, and environmental impacts. In other words, a project can vary from a set of regular (daily, weekly) tasks with the purpose to reach a certain goal to more serious projects which indeed can last for years or even for decades. SNIP, the article continues @ Anna-Marie Yritys Linkedin site, click here to continue reading…