Top 17 Project Management Methodologies You Need to Know

Project management methodologies are not a new topic. It evolved soon after working on projects started in the business. This means the root is very old and thus in the due course of time, several methods were identified. These methods were used based on the cost, people strength, time availability, and nature of the project itself, same as PMP Process Mapping Game - PMP Certification this used. Becoming a PM cannot happen overnight and it requires practice along with thorough experience. Not everyone can gain experience and hence training is offered to provide the skills to become a PM. You can make use of those training to gain insight into managing projects.  

In this blog let us see some of the significant techniques and how they can help PMs to handle the team and project for a winning outcome. Take this opportunity to understand the basics before you register for a course.

Becoming a Project Manager cannot happen overnight. It requires practice and thorough experience. Training can help you gain the knowledge and skills needed for management.

In this blog, let us explore some significant and understand their pros and cons. Take this chance to grasp the fundamentals before you enrol in a course.

What are Project Management Methodologies?

It refers to the systematic framework outlining how a project is planned, designed, and executed. It provides structured team guidelines on communication, resource allocation, progress tracking, deadline adherence, and result delivery. Whether a project is long, structured, and complex or easy, simple, having a defined methodology defines each role and makes the decision-making process easier. 

From traditional, step-by-step methods like Waterfall to more adaptive and flexible approaches like Agile, each method serves a specific project environment. Selecting the appropriate methodology depends on project size, goals, timeline, resources, and the anticipated level of change throughout the project life cycle.

Evolution of What are Project Management Methodologies

Project management is evolving based on the time requirement and the nature of adaptability. Different project management methodologies developed over the years to make it more potential and improve the project outcomes. In ancient times, monumental constructions like the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Wall of China showcased early project coordination involving meticulous planning and resource allocation.

Agile, Lean, and Scrum methodologies have gained prominence in recent decades. These methodologies emphasise flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement, which addresses the dynamic nature of modern projects and innovation-driven fields.

Top 17 Project Management Methodologies

1. Waterfall 

The Waterfall methodology is the oldest project management methodology. It follows a sequential process in each project phase. Generally, the waterfall model consists of seven stages and does not begin with a new phase until the previous one is fully completed. This model clearly defines goals and establishes stable requirements. Once a phase is finished, there is no turning back.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Follows a structured and linear approach
2. Has a Specified requirement
3. Lower flexibility

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Is not liable to change
2. Doesn’t have a specific requirement
3. Demands continuous testing 

2. Scrum 

Scrum is the most popular Agile framework tailored for fast-moving teams and is widely adopted in larger enterprises. It focuses on delivering small increments of work within fixed durations, accomplished by pre-defining roles and conducting sprint retrospectives.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Has pre-defined roles such as scrum master, product owner, etc
2. Promotes daily team meetings for smooth workflow
3. Focuses credibility due to transparency and accountability
4. Works on sprint    

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Customer involvement is less 
2. When your project goals shift
3. When timelines are rigid 

3. Kanban

Kanban is an Agile project management methodology that builds a visual board to manage tasks and improve workflow. In Japanese, kanban translates to "signboard." Kanban teams represent every work item as a separate card on the board.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Uses visual task management with boards/cards
2. Focus on flow and continuous delivery
3. WIP (Work In Progress) limits
4. It is excellent for support or maintenance teams

You cannot use this project when your project:

1. When targets are supposed to be completed within the fixed sequence
2. The project doesn’t fit the planning and estimations
3. Not ideal when progress tracking metrics is rigid.

4. Agile 

Agile is an iterative approach to managing software development projects. It emphasises collaboration and flexibility among team members and focuses on continuous improvement and adapting changes throughout the project lifecycle. 

You can use this when your project:

1. Is iterative and Incremental development
2. Focuses on customer collaboration and feedback
3. Embraces changes
4. Focus on working software

You cannot use this when your project:

1. When the ideal project scope and requirements are fixed
2. If the client or stakeholder demands detailed upfront planning
3. When a team lacks adaptability
4. When the compliance or regulatory measures are strict 

5. PMBOK 

PMBOK stands for the Project Management Body of Knowledge. It isn’t a methodology. Instead, it is a standard set of guidelines and processes used in project management. PMBOK is divided into five process groups, ten knowledge areas and forty-nine processes.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. It doesn’t require a method but a guide
2. Automated workflows
3. Customised dashboards 

You cannot use this project when your project:

1. Demands flexibility
2. It doesn’t work for small teams
3. Requires rapid delivery

6. Lean

Lean focuses on delivering value by removing waste and increasing efficiency. Beginning with manufacturing industries and large-scale enterprises, lean is widely used across industries. It is more about growing outputs with little effort. 

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Promotes continuous improvement
2. Reduces your waste of time, effort and money
3. Acts as customer’s voice
4. Stronger emphasis on efficiency.

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Solely focuses on speed over quality
2. Has rigid hierarchies and silos
3. Lacks in process driven mindset 

7. PRINCE2

PRINCE2 is a structured methodology that breaks projects into manageable stages. Item emphasises control, accountability, and detailed planning and is commonly used in government and large organisations.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Has a stage-based project structure
2. Defined roles and responsibilities
3. Emphasis on documentation and control
4. Widely used in the UK and Europe

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Is small, informal or fast-moving
2. lacks experience with structured processes.
3. Has frequent stakeholder interaction

8. Critical Path Management 

Critical path management is a technique used in project management to identify the longest path of interdependence tasks in the project and determine the shortest way to complete them. This can manage project delays. 

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Critical path analysis
2.  Estimate task duration
3.  Add dependencies
4. Estimate project duration 

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Not suitable for Agile or iterative development
2. Avoid if the team lacks planning and scheduling capacity
3. Doesn’t fit in dynamic projects 

9. Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM)

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) enhances project delivery by effectively managing resources and prioritising crucial tasks.CCPM expands on CPM by incorporating resource constraints and time buffers. It safeguards project timelines against delays and resource shortages while discouraging multitasking.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Eliminates multitasking
2. Impalnst buffer for uncertainties
3. Creates efficient task estimation
4. Outlines the resource dependencies

You cannot use this when your project:

1. When resource availability is unpredictable.
2. Avoid if the team isn’t disciplined in buffer management.
3. Doesn’t work well without centralised control over resources.
4. It is ineffective when multitasking is unavoidable or necessary.

10. Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a data-driven approach to improving quality by reducing defects and variability. It uses statistical methods and structured steps (like DMAIC). Six Sigma is common in manufacturing and quality control.

You can use this in when your project:

1. Emphasis on data and metrics
2. Structured problem-solving (DMAIC)
3. Goal: 99.99966% quality
4. Roles include Green Belt, Black Belt

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Prioritise speed over precision.
2. Avoid if the problem or process is not clearly defined.
3. Doesn’t work well in highly creative or exploratory environments.

 11. Extreme Programming (XP)

XP is an Agile methodology for software projects that emphasises technical excellence and frequent releases. It encourages pair programming, test-driven development, and continuous feedback.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Frequent and has minor releases
2. Test-driven development (TDD)
3. Pair programming
4. Close collaboration with users

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Doesn’t resist continuous feedback
2. Has teams with complex hierarchies.
3. When requirements are fixed and well-documented upfront.

12. Adaptive Project Framework (APF)

APF is designed for projects with high levels of uncertainty and changing needs. It allows the team to adjust plans as new information emerges. Flexibility is at the core.

You can use this project management methodolog when your project:

1. Iterative planning
2. Continuous feedback and adaptation
3. Stakeholder-driven changes
4. Ideal for uncertain or evolving projects

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Doesn’t have the proper stakeholder engagement
2. If a team lacks adaptability and collaboration
3. It is not ideal for compliance and heavy industries 

13. Rapid Application Development (RAD)

RAD prioritises quick development through prototypes and user feedback. It sacrifices deep planning for speed and responsiveness, which is common in early-stage product development.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Fast prototyping
2. User involvement throughout
3. Minimal planning upfront
4. Shorter development cycles

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Has no skilled developers and designers
2. When the project is rigid
3. When budget constraints exist

14. Feature-Driven Development (FDD)

FDD is an Agile method that organises work around delivering client-valued features. It blends structure with iterative development and is well-suited for large, complex software systems.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Feature-based planning and delivery
2. Model-driven approach
3. Scalable to large teams
4. Combines Agile with engineering discipline

You cannot use this when your project:

1. A detailed upfront modelling is not feasible.
2. Doesn’t work well when project goals are vague or evolving.
3. It is ineffective without experienced developers and designers.

15. Scrumban

Scrumban is a hybrid that combines Scrum’s structure with Kanban’s flexibility. It’s great for teams that outgrow Scrum or want more visual control. No strict sprints or ceremonies are required.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Uses Kanban boards with optional Scrum roles
2. Pull-based work management
3. Flexible and lightweight
4. Continuous delivery focus

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Have strict scrum rituals and structure
2. if the team isn’t unfamiliar with Scrum and Kanban practices.
3. Ineffective in environments where change is discouraged.

16. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)

IPD is a highly collaborative method used in construction and architecture. All stakeholders share risk, responsibility, and reward, fostering transparency and joint decision-making.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Shared contracts and goals
2. Early stakeholder involvement
3. High trust and communication
4. Reduces waste and conflicts

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Discourages joint decision-making.
2. Not suitable for projects lacking early stakeholder involvement.
3. Avoid if the culture resists transparency and shared accountability.

17. Hybrid Methodologies

Hybrid approaches combine elements from different methods, like Agile + Waterfall. Teams choose what works best for their unique project context. It’s all about balance.

You can use this project management methodology when your project:

1. Customised to project needs
2. A mix of flexibility and control
3. Adapts to both technical and business goals
4. Ideal for cross-functional or evolving teams

You cannot use this when your project:

1. Prefer strictly defined processes.
2. Avoid if the organisation lacks experience in multiple methods.
3. Doesn’t work well without flexibility and strong decision-making.

Final Thoughts about PMPMethodologies

Having spoken about many methodologies we now want to touch-base on PMP. It is not a methodology by itself but the best practice guide offered by PMI institute with a PMBOK book. When you attend a PMP course that will help you with the best guiding principles to handle any kind of project efficiently by making the team work to its fullest. The PMP certification training is focused on teaching the best practices collected from across different project management methodologies to bring out the best from the PM to meet the business goal, In this blog we learn about Project Management Methodologies that plays an important part unlike Top PMP Exam Questions and Answers.

Remember one thing that choosing the right method is the key to successful project delivery Management and being a PM you own this decision and learn the best practices to provide detailed insight to your business to take them to reach their goal. 

We have walked you through some project methods to give you an understanding of how they are different from each other. Also, we helped you understand to choose the right one for your project based on your company goal, budget, people, and time availability. Register for a PMP certification course to practically implement many project management techniques and get well versed to become the chief commander in your team to take the project to success from the scratch. Even though PMP Cheat Sheet is also there to help.