Learn Which Type of Project Management is Right For Your Business

Having a defined project management style is extremely important for any company to function efficiently. Depending on the field of business, the management style that works best can range, and you may even use multiple styles. There may be a time period that you try out a variety of management styles to see which ones works best for you and your employees. Everyone works differently, so finding the style that works for the majority is important.

Below are some of the main project management methodologies. Each type has subcategories that become more detailed, but these are some great approaches to get started:

Waterfall Management

This management style is a simple and easy approach to implement initially into your business. This methodology, which is the traditional method for managing projects, is perfect for creating physical objects. Since this approach works through projects through a sequence of phases, it’s a great way to track the progress. Similar to the idea of an assembly line, each phase cannot be started until the previous one is completed.

There are some drawbacks to this method however. One of the main issues is that planning out the project beforehand is crucial and must be detailed. It’s difficult to manage, and if there are any changes that need to be made, it’s harder to correct those mistakes.

Here’s an example of how a waterfall management style would look like:

Agile Management

This methodology was developed in 2001 with the mindset of “uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping other do it”, according to their manifesto. Their four main values are:

individuals and interactions over processes and tools
working software over comprehensive documentation
customer collaboration over contract negotiation
responding to change over following a plan

Agile management style focuses on adaptability and having constant feedback from the project team as well as customers. This approach is great if the production of the project is a non-physical. It allows for the company community to collaborate with one another and connects the different departments in a company.

Here’s a model of how an agile style would work:

Change Management

This approach focuses on preparing for changes in the production of your final product. It allows for their to be opportunities to make changes without derailing the whole project and continue once they are made. For this approach, it’s important that everybody involved communicates efficiently and understand the type of management method.

Change management is more popular since it allows for tweaking and editing during the production process. Similar to the agile style, it allows for people to work together and offer feedback.

Here’s how a change management style might function:

There are a multitude of different management style, each with their own subcategories, all created to fit a certain management style. Figuring out which method works best for your company takes time and trial-and-error.