What is the difference between traditional management and project management

Time is money, so it’s important to complete tasks efficiently and organize teams to work optimally to achieve goals. No matter what process you use, the most efficient way to do this is through project management. With project management, processes are kept on track and everyone involved is aware of each individual’s responsibility.

The best style of project management is still up for debate. Traditional project management and agile project management are two contrasting styles that are often pitted against each other, each with unique values and downfalls.

The best methodology to use for a specific project largely depends on the nature of the project and its requirements. Consequently, it’s important to understand the premise of each of these styles and the attributes that differentiate them.

Traditional Project Management 

The traditional, phased approach to project management has been implemented by companies and organizations for years. The most well-known is the waterfall method, which is best used in situations where there are clear goals and not many changes are expected to happen.

Waterfall is a set method that doesn’t change much depending on the project and relies heavily on upfront planning. It also trusts that every team member involved knows exactly what they’re doing and is able to do it in the allotted time. All phases of a process occur in a sequence, and once one milestone is achieved, the next can begin.

There are limited budget and timeline flexibilities, which can sometimes be a big problem, but there is also a great deal of documentation and accountability. If a project needs any change, even a minor one, a phased approach makes it quite tedious.

Agile Project Management 

Agile methods differ from traditional methods in that they prioritize feedback and learning, promoting flexibility and collaboration. Instead of a set process, they allow room for a constantly revised and updated plan of action based on outcomes, customer feedback, and latest results.

Of course, there is an outline and a plan in place, but work is broken down into sprints, which are small, time-boxed segments that aren’t necessarily required to be carried out in order. It is used principally for software development projects, since the nature of those projects requires a team effort.

Agile is essentially adaptive and allows each member of the team to contribute to the decisions that need to be made along the way and to influence the direction of the project. Agile relies on the individual team members and their expertise and commitment to the project, rather than on processes. It also is more flexible and has a relaxed approach to changing variables, such as schedules and cost.

Flexibility 

The rigid structure of the traditional process means that there is little room for flexibility once the process has been started. Any possible changes or variables must be accounted for in the upfront planning; otherwise, they will cause massive disruptions to the top-down process, and the project will be hindered. Everyone involved in the process must stick to their designated role as best they can, and change is usually discouraged, since productivity will pay a huge price.

With agile project management, the process is much more flexible, as team members are free to experiment or question the plan if they think it necessary. Changes can be made to the process and the product at any stage of the project. Communication and creativity are encouraged in order to find the most beneficial alternatives and factor in any new information.

Working with agile means the developers have the freedom to use their expertise to influence and improve the project outcome.

Ownership 

With traditional methods of project management, the project manager has worked on all the initial planning, oversees the entire process, delegates work to team members, and dictates the inflexible, structured method. Team members generally don’t get a say in the direction of the process, which is why the project manager is seen to be solely responsible for the entire journey of the project and has complete ownership.

Alternatively, agile project management offers a more shared responsibility for the project. The team members all have accountability for various parts of the project, and therefore each member also has ownership. All team members are able to adapt the plan and work as necessary throughout the project.

Agile methods require team members to collaborate to come up with a plan, and it’s expected to have frequent input and updates from everyone involved. Agile provides a higher level of transparency during the process, since all members are aware of the entire plan and are kept updated on what everyone is working on. Having higher levels of accountability for a project is also shown to improve engagement and motivation.

Project Complexity 

Traditional waterfall methods of project management are best implemented for less complex projects that have few dependent variables and expect few changes. If a project has a clear and defined goal and the project manager knows exactly the amount of resources, time, and effort needed to achieve it, then the traditional method will provide the most efficient way to complete that project.

The agile method is a great option for more complex projects with many overlapping or interconnected components. When a project has many variables that could switch up or there is the potential for feedback or learning within the project that may affect the outcome, then agile is the more appropriate medium to work with.

Choose What’s Best for Each Situation

There is no specific answer for which method of project management is objectively best, since they each have their merits and are suited to different styles of project. What is most important is that managers understand the nature and requirements of their project, as well as the capabilities and experience of their team. Once all aspects are considered, it’s up to them to decide which is the best method to implement for a specific project.

Which method of project management businesses should use largely depends on the type of project, its complexity, and the desired outcome. The main thing that’s important with project management is your team completing their tasks as efficiently as possible, so there’s no cookie-cutter method for that to happen every time; this is why so many different methods of project management exist.

Successful companies don’t enforce a one-size-fits-all policy. Instead, they incorporate all methods of project management to solve different problems and achieve different goals.

Rapidly evolving industries compel companies to take advantage of project management systems to operate as efficiently as possible. Agile and traditional project management methodologies enable businesses to produce the best possible products and services. They ensure the success of various processes and help companies achieve their objectives. Although there are numerous project management approaches, most businesses rely on either traditional or agile project management. In the last few years, agile project management has surged in popularity among project managers who prefer its high degree of adaptability and better risk management. Nevertheless, the traditional project management methodology offers project managers a few valuable advantages.

To understand the difference between the two approaches, this article explores the two project management methodologies and their benefits.

What Is Traditional Project Management?

Traditional project management, or the ‘waterfall approach’ approaches projects in a sequential way. As a result, project managers who prefer the traditional project management methodology clearly define the scope, schedule, and budget of the project from the very beginning.

Since it approaches projects in a linear cycle, each phase consisting of initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closing is highly predictable. Projects using this approach follow a rigid and fixed lifecycle of stages. In order to successfully accomplish a project with the traditional project management methodology, project managers must plan the project in its entirety from the start. This well-structured approach ensures a consistent flow pattern to the project, but it requires flawless planning from project managers.

Under traditional project management, projects operate under the constraints of limited scope, fixed budget, and a strict timeline. Project managers must play a lead role in the project to verify it flows within the constraints and confirm each phase is completed accordingly. Since each stage must be completed before the project moves forward to the next one, it is the project manager’s responsibility to guarantee each phase is completed on time and within budget.

What Is Agile Project Management?

Agile project management is an approach to project management that gained massive popularity among project managers in the past years. Its modern, non-linear approach appeals to many teams because it fosters collaboration and teamwork.

This approach operates in relatively short sprints. These sprints tend to be a few weeks to a month in length. After each sprint, the agile project management methodology seeks feedback from consumers to ensure each iteration of the product is better than the previous one.

As a result, this iterative approach allows for significantly more changes and a greater degree of flexibility. Projects that use the agile project management approach are continuously adapting to feedback. This allows teams to incorporate any necessary changes and developments to produce the best possible results.

Under agile project management, the project is always evolving to guarantee customer satisfaction. Some of the common Agile frameworks used by teams to streamline software are Scrum and Kanban.

Due to the high involvement of customers in the development process, this approach guarantees they are satisfied with the results. For this reason, along with others, many project managers prefer to use the agile project management approach over the traditional project management approach.

Benefits of Traditional Project Management

There are numerous advantages offered by the traditional project management approach to businesses, project managers, and their teams. Here are a few of the best benefits of traditional project management.

Well-Structured And Well-Defined

Since the objectives of each stage in the project are predetermined before the execution phase, teams understand their roles and responsibilities. Moreover, the highly predictable nature of the process means members of the team know what to expect as well as what is expected of them. Projects following the traditional project management methodology can technically operate smoothly with little to no supervision from the project manager. However, it is recommended for the project manager to be constantly present to check the completion of each stage.

Cost Effective

Projects using the traditional project management approach operate within budget constraints. This allows for predictable costs and reduces the chances of unexpected costs.

Controllable

Traditional project management enables project managers to enjoy more control over the project’s various aspects especially its scope, schedule, and budget. Moreover, they can define the expectations within each stage necessary for the project to flow into the next stage.

Accountability

With greater control comes more responsibility for the outcome of the project. Since the processes are clearly defined and well structured, it allows for more accountability at each phase. Ultimately, the project manager leading the project is accountable for its outcome.

Benefits of Agile Project Management

Due to the advantages of the agile project management methodology, most project managers choose this approach for their projects.

Flexibility

Agile project management is often praised for allowing a significant degree of flexibility. It is tremendously more adaptive to changes than the traditional project management methodology. Project managers and members of their team using this framework are able to quickly respond to feedback from clients and incorporate numerous changes into the development of the product throughout the project.

Customer Feedback

Clients heavily participate in the development process and provide continuous feedback. Under this approach, customers are able to see the value and impact of their feedback on the development process. This promotes transparency and assures their satisfaction with the end results.

Collaboration

This approach to project management prioritizes collaboration in all forms. Team members are also encouraged to collaborate with each other on projects using agile project management. Every member must communicate with the rest of the team in order to complete the sprint.

Complexity

The agile project management approach allows project managers and their teams to manage complex projects more easily. Due to its flexible and feedback-dependent nature, agile project management is the first choice of many project managers for large and complex projects.

How To Choose Between Agile and Traditional Project Management

Generally, most complex and large projects should use agile traditional project management. Any projects that require flexibility and feedback are best suited for the agile project management methodology. Moreover, project managers who want to minimize risk will benefit from this approach due to its ability to respond quickly to risks. Project managers who value collaboration and teamwork should also consider this approach.

In contrast, project managers might be better served by the traditional project management methodology if a project is on a short deadline. The controllable nature of traditional project management and its ability to operate with constraints is also extremely suited for remote projects. Less complex and smaller projects will benefit from the structure provided by traditional project management.

Conclusion

Both agile and traditional project management approaches offer their own advantages to project managers. The best fit for your project is the one that best fits your style and objectives as a project manager.

Michael Dehoyos is a project manager and technology content specialist at Research paper writing services. He assists several companies with finding innovative solutions to their problems, and contributes his writing on business growth and productivity strategies to numerous sites and publications.