Choosing A Methodology Yara Morale ✓ Solved

Choosing A Methodology6choosing A Methodologyyara Morale

Define which methodology, Agile or waterfall, is most appropriate for this project. Why? Cite at least 2 sources to support your rationale. Describe the following roles for this project: a. Project manager, b. Project sponsor, c. Business analyst, d. Scrum master or program manager.

Paper For Above Instructions

The choice of project management methodology can significantly affect a project's success. In this case, the focus is on a project aimed at improving employee health over six months with a budget of $200,000. The question at hand is whether to choose Agile or Waterfall as the preferred methodology for this project. This paper argues that the Waterfall methodology is the most suitable for this project based on its structure, predictability, and alignment with the project's goals.

Waterfall Methodology

The Waterfall methodology is often characterized by a linear and sequential design process. It involves distinct phases including requirements gathering, design, implementation, verification, and maintenance (Radujković & Sjekavica, 2017). Each phase must be completed before the next can begin, making it easy to track progress and maintain a clear structure.

Why Waterfall is Suitable

Given the objectives of the project aimed at enhancing employee health, the Waterfall approach allows for thorough planning and execution of each task involved. Since the project will run for a defined period of six months, the need for a clear trajectory and concrete steps is paramount. Specifically:

1. Fixed Requirements: The nature of the project requires that specific health improvement initiatives be established upfront. Waterfall is advantageous here because it entails gathering all project requirements before implementation, eliminating uncertainty (Papke-Shields & Boyer-Wright, 2017).
2. Monitoring and Evaluation: With clear phases in place, monitoring project milestones at each stage becomes manageable. In the context of health initiatives, this allows the management team to assess the effectiveness of interventions and make necessary adjustments early in the process.
3. Budget Control: The clearly delineated phases help in managing the allocated budget effectively. Waterfall encourages detailed documentation and budgeting for each task, helping avoid unnecessary financial surprises during project execution.

Comparison with Agile

While Agile methodologies are praised for their flexibility and speed, they may not be the best fit for this particular project. Agile's iterative processes can be beneficial for projects that require frequent revisions based on user feedback; however, in the case of health improvement initiatives, the potential complexity and risk of diverging from the project goals could create challenges. The need to engage stakeholders and measure outcomes effectively aligns better with a Waterfall approach.

Roles in the Project

Understanding the roles within the project is essential for effective management. Each role serves specific functions to ensure the project's success:

• Project Manager: The project manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the project. This includes maintaining effective communication within the team and managing stakeholder expectations. This individual acts as a crucial link between the project team and senior leadership, ensuring that the project remains aligned with organizational goals.
• Project Sponsor: The project sponsor is a high-ranking stakeholder who provides the financial resources necessary for the project. This role is critical because the sponsor not only secures funding but also advocates for the project at the executive level.
• Business Analyst: The business analyst assesses the project's viability from a business standpoint. Their insights guide the project team in understanding the organizational context and objectives, ensuring that the health initiatives are aligned with the company’s vision.
• Program Manager: The program manager supervises the programs established to improve employee health and ensures that all initiatives are running smoothly. This role often has more experience in program implementation and interacts closely with the project team to resolve issues and optimize operations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, for a project focused on improving employee health over six months with a fixed budget, the Waterfall methodology stands out as the most appropriate choice. Its structured approach allows for comprehensive planning and monitoring of initiatives, vital for achieving desired outcomes effectively. The clear role definitions further enhance the capacity to meet project objectives, ultimately contributing to the overall success of the health improvement programs.

References

• Papke-Shields, K. E., & Boyer-Wright, K. M. (2017). Strategic planning characteristics applied to project management. International Journal of Project Management, 35(2).
• Radujković, M., & Sjekavica, M. (2017). Project management success factors. Procedia Engineering, 196.
• Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
• PMI. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition. Project Management Institute.
• Snyder, C. (2017). Agile project management with scrum. Microsoft Press.
• Schmidt, C., & Kelleher, J. (2018). Project management for beginners: The essential guide to building a project management process. Sybex.
• Wysocki, R. K. (2019). Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme. Wiley.
• Highsmith, J. (2010). Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products. Addison-Wesley.
• Boone, T. (2018). Lean project management: How to streamline your projects. CRC Press.
• Gido, J., & Clements, J. P. (2018). Successful Project Management. Cengage Learning.