Project management methodology

Having a project management methodology to follow is a cornerstone of consistent project success for individual project managers and their organizations. A methodology allows us to avoid reinventing the wheel every time we start a project and it allows organizational level control of project priorities and resource allocation because all projects are consistently planned. Unfortunately there aren't many fully developed methodologies available. The Project-Management Body of Knowledge, published by the Project Management Institute, is not a methodology it's a vast encyclopedia of the best practices in project. In fact, the PMBOK makes repeated reference to organization having their own project management methodologies without providing any.

Our Achievement Driven Project Methodology (AdPM) is unique in a couple of ways. First, it's scalable and gives project managers guidance as to "how much" project-management they should do on different size projects. The methodology can be scaled down for small "puppy projects" where the whole plan is a few lines long. It can be scaled up for hugh "pachyderm" projects and several steps in between. Second, the methodology at all scales maintains its focus on accountability for measured results and the measurement of business value. Third AdPM keeps paper work to a minimum through the use of our templates and dynamic project scheduling techniques.

That focus on measured performance & metrics provides great support for the individual project manager making assignments. It gives team members a crystal clear understanding of the performance that's expected of them. Finally, it gives executives responsible for managing a portfolio of projects a powerful tool for measuring progress accurately in solving problems early.

To learn more about AdPM, watch the video on the five-step ADPM method for small projects.

We also have a video on organizational implementation of ADPM methods

Add you comments about project methodologies.

Best regards,

Dick Billows, PMP, GCA