Predictive-Agile-Adaptive

Project Management Lifecycles Explained

Agile Admiral - Gabor Stramb

Jan 21, 2024

Read time: 5 minutes

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💼 Predictive-Agile-Adaptive - Project Management Lifecycles Explained

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💼 Predictive-Agile-Adaptive:

Project Management Lifecycles Explained

Predictive → Plan driven

Predictive project management, also known as waterfall project management, is a structured, linear approach that emphasizes detailed upfront planning and strict adherence to that initial plan.

It assumes the project scope, timeline, and costs can be accurately predicted at the outset, and generally follows a sequence of define, design, build, and test.

Requirements are gathered early, resources are allocated, tasks are scheduled, and the project team implements each predetermined phase. There is limited flexibility to change course once execution starts.

Detailed Planning: In predictive projects, a comprehensive project plan is created at the beginning, outlining all the tasks, activities, and milestones from start to finish. This plan is expected to remain relatively stable throughout the project.
Scope Stability: The project scope is carefully defined and documented at the start. Changes to the scope are minimized during project execution to maintain stability and avoid disruptions.
Sequential Phases: The project is divided into distinct phases that follow a sequential order, such as initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closure. Each phase typically depends on the completion of the previous one.
Minimal Flexibility: Predictive projects need more flexibility to adapt to changing requirements or circumstances. Deviating from the original plan can be challenging and may require formal change management processes.
Emphasis on Documentation: Documentation is a key aspect of predictive project management. Detailed plans, requirements documents, and project reports are maintained throughout the project to ensure transparency and accountability.
Rigorous Change Control: Changes to project scope, schedule, or resources are tightly controlled. Any changes that are proposed must go through a formal change control process for evaluation and approval.
Risk Management: Predictive projects typically involve upfront identification and assessment of risks. Mitigation strategies are defined and implemented to manage potential issues that may arise.
Project Closure: The project is formally closed when all deliverables are completed according to the initial plan. A thorough review is often conducted to analyze the project's success and identify areas for improvement.

Agile → Changed driven

Agile project management is an iterative and flexible approach to managing projects that emphasizes collaboration, customer feedback, and the ability to adapt to changing requirements. It is well-suited for projects where the scope is uncertain, rapidly changing, or requires innovation. Here are the key characteristics of agile projects:

Iterative Development: Agile projects break the work into smaller iterations or time-bound cycles, often referred to as "sprints" in methodologies like Scrum. Each iteration results in a potentially shippable product increment, allowing for regular inspection and adaptation.
Customer Collaboration: Agile projects involve close collaboration with customers, stakeholders, and end-users. Their feedback is actively sought and incorporated into the project to ensure that the final product meets their needs and expectations.
Adaptive Planning: Agile planning is dynamic and focuses on adapting to changes rather than strictly adhering to a predefined plan. Plans are adjusted at the end of each iteration based on the insights gained during the process.
Flexibility and Change: Agile projects are designed to handle changing requirements. The development team is empowered to adjust priorities and make changes based on customer feedback and evolving circumstances.
Cross-Functional Teams: Agile teams are usually cross-functional, consisting of members with diverse skills required for the project's success. This diversity allows for a holistic approach to problem-solving.
Continuous Improvement: Agile methodologies promote continuous improvement. After each iteration, teams hold retrospectives to reflect on what went well and what can be improved in the next cycle.
Emphasis on Deliverables: The focus of agile projects is on delivering valuable, working features in each iteration. This ensures that progress is visible and that stakeholders can see the project's evolution.
Transparent Communication: Agile projects rely on open and transparent communication within the team and with stakeholders. Information sharing helps in maintaining alignment and addressing issues promptly.
Embracing Change: Agile projects recognize that change is inevitable. They encourage responding to change over following a plan, and they have mechanisms in place to incorporate changes smoothly.
Quality Assurance: Quality is built into the process through practices like continuous integration, automated testing, and regular quality checks during development.
Short Timeframes: Agile projects work in short timeframes (e.g., 2 to 4 weeks per iteration) to quickly produce tangible results and maintain a manageable scope.

Adaptive → Change based

Adaptive project management is an iterative approach to managing projects that embraces change as a normal part of the process. It involves continuously re-planning and adjusting the project timeline, resources, and scope as new information emerges.

The adaptive approach assesses risk frequently, gets feedback from stakeholders often, delivers work in small increments, and makes adjustments when needed with the goal of reducing uncertainty and adapt the project plan to match the evolving circumstances.

It is a management approach that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and learning in order to maximize the likelihood of project success in complex, uncertain environments.

Is Agile Predictive or Adaptive Approach?

Agile methodology is an adaptive approach that embraces change, flexibility, and continuous improvement in dynamic environments with focus on iterative delivery and responding to feedback over following a predictive plan.

Is Agile Same as Adaptive?

Agile project management shares many similarities with adaptive approaches, but they are not exactly the same. Adaptive approaches generally refer to any methodology that embraces change, iteration, and flexibility.

Agile is one specific methodology within the broader category of adaptive approaches, with practices like sprints, stand-ups, and user stories. So while Agile is adaptive, adaptive itself encompasses a wider range of methodologies beyond just Agile.

Hybrid → Change based

As the name suggests, hybrid project management is an approach that combines elements of both predictive or waterfall, and adaptive approaches. It provides flexibility where needed while maintaining structure and control where necessary.

A project might start with a predictive approach for the planning phase, defining clear objectives, and outlining overall project structure. Then, it may shift to an adaptive approach during execution, allowing for iterative development and regular feedback.

This approach provides the best of both worlds, combining the detailed planning benefits of predictive management with the flexibility and adaptability of adaptive management and is useful for projects that require a firm structure but also need room to adapt to changes or uncertainties.

Examples of hybrid project management include software development projects that have a clear overall objective, yet require flexibility in design and functionality based on user feedback and testing.

5 examples of when to use predictive/agile/hybrid

Predictive Project Management:

Construction Projects
Manufacturing Projects
Regulatory Compliance Projects
Infrastructure Upgrades
Fixed-Budget Contracts

Agile Project Management:

Software Development
Product Innovation
Marketing Campaigns
Research and Development
Startups and Entrepreneurial Ventures

Hybrid Project Management

Healthcare Information System Implementation
New Product Development
Infrastructure Upgrades for Financial Institutions
Event Planning and Management:
Software Upgrade for Legacy Systems:

source: https://deeprojectmanager.com/adaptive-vs-predictive/

source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/navigating-project-management-approaches-unveiling-dynamics-amer-ali/

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