PMBOK Guide and Waterfall approach

Thanks Sergio

Thanks for your reply.

I just wanted to know if this statement from PMI "Sixth Edition and is intended to serve as a bridge to connect waterfall and agile approaches." correct?

PMBOK Guide processes can be applied globally to any practice/lifecycle/approach. What is your opinion?

Thanks Kiron. You are in saying "the "mainstream" perception was that the Guide was tied to a traditional deterministic approach". But does that "mainstream" include PMI itself?

PMI presents the PMPBOK Guide as Standards & Guidelines for Project Management. PMBOK Guide processes were never based on a specific approach and even the first ed processes can be applied as an agile approach.

In my opinion, PMI' statement "Sixth Edition and is intended to serve as a bridge to connect waterfall and agile approaches." is redundant and borderline incorrect.

Than Michael, What do you think of PMI's statement "Sixth Edition and is intended to serve as a bridge to connect waterfall and agile approaches."?

Is totally wrong because waterfall and agile are not matter of comparison, is like to compare apples with bananas. I wrote about that in my previous statement. You can apply Agile using waterfall life cycle process (we are doing that in my actual work place and it was one of my duties to work on that defining how to do that). On the other the PMBOK Guide is full compatible with all the well known agile based methods.Just the only thing perhaps you changes are tools listed on the PMBOK but the PMBOK do not stated that you have to use the tools listed inside it or nothing. In fact, just to add some kind of information about I am totally committed to that, let me say I have performed conferences inside the PMI World Tour in lot of countries from 2010 explaining that. So, there is not brigde at all because there is no sense. For example, in my actual work place, the same person is assigned as project manager to more than one initiative at the same time and those initiatives are based on different approaches (Agile with our own process, Scrum, SDLC, etc)

Praveen -

I believe the "bridge" reference relates to the addition of the considerations for adaptive lifecycle projects sections in each knowledge area chapter.

Kiron

I think the statement is true for particular applications such as projects within construction. Here a waterfall approach seems fitting and agile makes sense. In such a project you want high value, high quality work. Adding an agile method makes sense as it allows you to focus on each section of building in a waterfall methodology to ensure that every step created has high value and quality. It can allow you to limit risks by applying such focus based actions in a smaller chunk of time verses stretching a project where scope creep or other risks can find their way in.

Sort of like studying... Studying something for 1.5 hours and barely retaining any information is worthless compared to focused and attentive study for 30 minutes with more information retained.

There’s many methodologies to utilize and if the masses of project involve a waterfall approach than adding agile methods would be a positive consideration.

As I have not touched on agile methods and still early in my learning, I can imagine this method increases the potential risk or consequences within these sprints of work being done. I think quality, cost, and scope monitoring would be a huge factor to maintains a single oversight can throw things off and since agile approaches tend to speed things up with more focus demand, everyone involved needs to be present at all times in their actions. But I do think agile method does help to eliminate distractions when sticking with a schedule. To focus on each piece of the puzzle can definitely bring higher quality work to the project.

Thank again. Why do you think earlier PMBOK Guide processes cannot be applied to an agile lifecycle?

Thanks again.

The basic theme of the processes between PMBOK Guide 5th (and previous editions also) and 6th ed has not changed. They have added 1-2 paras describing agile in each KA.

On the contrary the statement at PMI's website refers to the Agile practice guide and PMBOK Guide 6th ed. Here it is again - "The Agile Practice Guide, which was created in partnership with the Agile Alliance®, is a fitting companion to the PMBOK® Guide – Sixth Edition and is intended to serve as a bridge to connect waterfall and agile approaches."

A "bridge" is required only if there is a "chasm". Like you said in your previous comment that PMBOK Guide is approach neutral.