Different Project Management Techniques that a Project Management Professional Should Know

Whether it is a small business or a multinational conglomerate, a project management professional is seen as someone navigating the business to profits. Project Management has come far from just managing employees and paying their wages. It is now a technical subject area with methodologies that result in tangible benefits. The following information discusses some popular project management techniques that are prominent in software development companies, but can be applied to other sectors as well.

Waterfall Method

In this method, the project manager initially determines the requirements. Next, project members are picked to design the project. The project development could be distributed. At the end of it, all these distributed development components are integrated for validation. Post-validation, the project is implemented at the customer site, following which maintenance activities kick-in.

Agile Approach

In the agile approach, a sequential project development methodology is not employed. The project team works simultaneously on all aspects of the project. As soon as the design of the project is published, project development starts. Incremental project development output is validated, documented, and released to the customer.

Sequential development gives way to simultaneous development, validation, design changes, design review, documentation, and prototyping. Each development and customer release cycle phase is termed as a sprint. A project phase could be divided into numerous sprints. Taking up PMP certification training from the Project Management Institute exposes candidates with knowledge of these project management methodologies and more.

Six Sigma

The Six Sigma methodology is for projects that have to be measured precisely. The idea is to identify deviations and bring immediate resolutions to address these deviations. To achieve minimum variance or deviation, the project manager defines measures, analyzes, improves and controls the project. The project is hand-held right from its development to implementation to achieve zero defects and negligible variance.