From Agile to Waterfall: A Breakdown of Project Management Methodologies

Published on: October 16, 2024

In today’s complex and fast-paced work environments, project management methodologies can be invaluable. They provide structure, tools and guidelines that help teams effectively plan, execute and monitor their work. With the growing intricacy of many projects, choosing the right methodology can be the difference between a successful project and a chaotic one.

Explore the 10 popular project management methodologies below to help teams and organizations select the most suitable framework for their needs.

What Are Project Management Methodologies?

Project management methodologies are frameworks that guide teams through the various phases of a project. They provide best practices, techniques and processes that ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and with the desired quality. These methodologies help standardize workflows — making it easier for teams to communicate, manage risks and meet project objectives.

Different types of project management methodologies cater to different project types. For example, some are suited to cyclical processes where flexibility is crucial, while others work better for linear, structured projects. Each methodology has its strengths, and the key to project success often lies in leveraging the one that’s ideal for the specific project environment.

10 Popular Project Management Methodologies

Selecting the right project management methodology is critical for project success. Agile, Scrum, Waterfall and other methodologies each offer unique benefits, and the choice depends on the specific needs of the project, team and industry. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, project managers can make informed decisions that lead to better outcomes, smoother processes and more satisfied stakeholders.

Agile

Agile is one of the most popular and flexible project management methodologies. Developed for projects that require constant adaptation, Agile focuses on incremental progress and customer feedback. It is particularly effective in software development but has expanded to a range of other industries.

Agile breaks a project into time-boxed iterations called ‘sprints,’ typically lasting two to four weeks, during which teams work on small, manageable tasks. At the end of each sprint, the team presents a potentially deliverable product increment, allowing for continuous feedback and adjustments. Agile values adaptability over following a rigid plan, thus enabling teams to respond to changes quickly.

Core principles of Agile include:

Collaboration with customers
Flexible responses to changes
Incremental and iterative work processes
Continuous improvement

Agile is ideal for projects where requirements are likely to evolve or where customer feedback is crucial throughout the development process.

Waterfall

Waterfall is a traditional project management methodology that follows a linear, sequential approach. Developed in the 1970s, Waterfall is well-suited for projects where requirements are well-defined at the start and unlikely to change during the project lifecycle.

In the Waterfall model, the project is divided into distinct phases:

Requirement gathering
Design
Development
Testing
Deployment
Maintenance

Each phase must be completed before the next one begins. This makes it a more rigid methodology compared to Agile, as it doesn’t easily accommodate changes once a phase is completed.

Waterfall is often used in industries like construction and manufacturing, where processes are predictable and need a high degree of precision. However, it can be less effective in environments where rapid changes are common, as the inability to revisit earlier phases can slow progress.

Waterfall’s key strengths include:

Clear structure and documentation
Defined roles and responsibilities
Predictability in execution

Scrum

Scrum is a subset of Agile, and it provides a structured yet flexible approach to managing projects. It is particularly focused on team roles, ceremonies and artifacts that facilitate project execution.

Scrum breaks projects into time-boxed iterations called “sprints,” typically lasting two to four weeks. The Scrum team includes specific roles: the product owner (who defines project goals), the Scrum master (who facilitates the process and removes obstacles) and the development team (who builds the product). At the end of each sprint, the team conducts a “sprint review” to demonstrate progress and collect feedback.

Scrum promotes transparency, inspection and adaptation through regular meetings like daily stand-ups, sprint planning and retrospectives. These elements allow the team to stay aligned, adjust priorities and continuously improve their work processes.

Key characteristics of Scrum include:

Cross-functional teams
Daily stand-up meetings
Iterative and incremental development
Emphasis on communication and collaboration

Scrum works best for projects that benefit from constant collaboration and development, making it popular in software and creative industries.

Scrumban

Scrumban is a hybrid methodology that combines elements of Scrum and Kanban. It was developed to offer teams the flexibility of Kanban while retaining the structured approach of Scrum. Scrumban is well-suited for teams that require the flexibility to adapt on the fly while still benefiting from organized sprints.

Scrumban combines Scrum’s structured approach with Kanban’s flexibility. While it allows for continuous task flow using Kanban boards, it may still incorporate time-boxed iterations for planning and review purposes, offering a balance between both methodologies. Scrumban allows teams to pull tasks as they have the capacity to complete them, which supports the ability to respond to changing priorities.

Scrumban is particularly useful for teams working on projects with no clear end or teams that need to be agile but are managing complex workflows that require some level of predictability.

Notable features of Scrumban include:

Use of Kanban boards for workflow visualization
No predefined sprints or fixed roles
Continuous improvement with minimal disruption

Kanban

Kanban is a visual project management methodology focused on optimizing workflow and minimizing bottlenecks. Originating from Toyota’s manufacturing process, Kanban has been adapted to various industries, particularly in tech and creative fields.

Kanban employs a visual board where tasks are represented as cards that move through different stages, such as “To Do,” “In Progress” and “Done.” Teams can see at a glance the status of each task, helping identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.

Unlike Agile or Scrum, Kanban doesn’t require fixed-length sprints or specific roles. Instead, it allows work to flow continuously, enabling teams to pull tasks based on capacity. This flexibility makes Kanban suitable for environments where priorities change frequently. It’s ideal for projects where work can be done in small, incremental steps and where visualizing the flow of tasks improves efficiency.

Kanban’s main advantages include:

Visual workflow management
Flexibility and continuous delivery
Reduction of waste and inefficiencies

Lean

Lean project management is focused on maximizing value while minimizing waste. Originating from the Lean manufacturing principles at Toyota, this methodology emphasizes creating value for the customer through efficient use of resources.

Lean identifies seven types of waste (overproduction, waiting, transport, extra processing, inventory, motion and defects) and seeks to eliminate them. It also stresses the importance of continuous improvement through constant feedback loops.

A key aspect of Lean is the focus on delivering value quickly by breaking down processes into smaller tasks, reducing wait times and continuously refining workflows. Lean is suitable for teams that want to improve efficiency and focus on customer value, making it popular in industries like manufacturing, healthcare and software development.

Lean’s core principles include:

Elimination of waste
Continuous improvement
Delivering value quickly

Critical Path Method (CPM)

The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a time-based project management methodology used for complex projects with multiple interdependent tasks. Developed in the 1950s, CPM focuses on identifying the sequence of essential tasks that must be completed on time for the project to meet its deadline.

CPM involves mapping out all the tasks required to complete a project, estimating their durations and determining which tasks depend on others. The critical path is the longest sequence of tasks that must be completed on time to avoid delaying the entire project. This allows project managers to prioritize these tasks and allocate resources effectively.

CPM is ideal for projects with complex, interrelated tasks — such as construction, research and development and event planning. Key benefits of CPM include:

Clear identification of crucial tasks
Optimization of resource allocation
Detailed project scheduling

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM)

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is a variation of CPM that accounts for resource availability. It focuses on optimizing both task scheduling and resource allocation by considering resource constraints alongside task dependencies.

In CCPM, tasks are scheduled based on their dependencies, but resource availability is also factored in. Buffers are added to account for potential delays, helping teams manage uncertainty and ensuring that project deadlines are met without overloading resources.

CCPM encourages team members to focus on one task at a time, reducing multitasking and improving productivity. It’s particularly useful for projects where resources are scarce, and teams need to optimize their use of time and materials. In addition, CCPM is commonly used in industries like engineering, research and product development, where resources are often a limiting factor.

CCPM’s advantages include:

Reduced multitasking
Buffer management for delays
Focus on resource optimization

Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a data-driven project management methodology focused on improving quality by minimizing defects and variations in processes. Originally developed by Motorola in the 1980s, Six Sigma has been adopted across a wide range of industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and finance.

Six Sigma uses statistical methods to identify and eliminate the causes of defects, ensuring consistent quality in processes. It follows the DMAIC framework (define, measure, analyze, improve, control), which helps teams systematically identify problems, analyze data and implement solutions.

The methodology is highly structured and relies on trained professionals called “Green Belts” and “Black Belts” to lead improvement initiatives. By focusing on reducing variability and improving process efficiency, Six Sigma helps organizations deliver higher-quality products and services.

Six Sigma’s key principles include:

Data-driven decision-making
Reduction of process variation
Focus on continuous improvement

PRINCE2

PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is a highly structured project management methodology developed by the UK government. It provides detailed processes for managing projects — including stages, roles and responsibilities — ensuring thorough control and governance throughout the project lifecycle.

PRINCE2 divides projects into manageable stages, with defined roles and responsibilities for each participant. Each stage requires approval before moving forward to ensure that projects remain aligned with business objectives and stakeholder expectations.

PRINCE2 is widely used in government, finance and large-scale IT projects, where strict control and governance are essential. Key components of PRINCE2 include:

Business justification for projects
Defined roles and responsibilities
Focus on product delivery and quality control

Position Yourself for Success in Project Management With Park

From working on a software development project to managing a complex construction effort, knowing which types of project management methodologies to leverage can make all the difference.

For those looking to break into careers as project managers, Park University offers both graduate certificates and degree concentrations in project management (complete with convenient online options) that help students advance their skill sets and prepare for the Project Management Certification Exam. To get started, get in touch by requesting more information today.