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Two Sides Of The Same Coin
Flip a Coin
Straight to the point:
With this article I would like to emphasize - and finally document officially & for all time in human history - that Agile and Classical Project Management are two sides of the same coin.
The Project Management Continuum, excerp from presentation "Start Agile" by D. Hey 2025, © hey-agile.com
Project Management (PM) has evolved over the centuries. These days you can study Project Management, you can get certified and there is a huge community wordwide spending their time in documenting and exchanging on this diverse topic of Project Management.
The PM-evolution has recently - well it was around the 1970's A.D. - given birth to a form of Project Management that, on the one side is fully based on its heritage the classical/traditional PM, but on the other side breaks with it at the same time: Agile Project Management.
It has come, that both are seen as different things, parties, domains. People have been drawing borders between the two. Unfortunately, this sounds like typical human behaviour (my personal opinion).
As a matter of fact: with both schools you can fully run a project, fully build a product and even manage teams.
And if you keep your mind and your eyes open, you will see and find, that both schools share the same topics, methods and outcomes. But where are the commonalities and differences now?
SInce I was previously certified as PMP® at times of the PMBOK Guide 6th Edition my cognitive structure is minted. Advantageously, based on this quite easy to understand structure a comparison can simply be set up:
According to PMBOK Guide 6th Edition Project Management is divided into #10 Performance Domains and #5 Phases*:
#10 Performance Domains
Integration
Scope
Schedule
Cost
Quality
Ressouces
Communication
Risk
Procurement
Stakeholers
#5 Phases
Initiating
Planning
Executing
Monitoring and Controlling
Closing
*) not quite the wording used in PMBOK 6th Edition, but better to understand in my opinion
A comparison out of my personal experience I will add later on to this article.
But first, let's hear...
What AI Says...
PROMPT:
please do me a comparison between agile and classical project management based on the 10 performance domains of the PMBOK® 6th edition.
Aria (based on Gemini 1.5 and GPT-4o), Jan. 2025[start AI]
"
ANSWER:
Absolutely, let's dive into a comparison of Agile and Classical Project Management based on the 10 Performance Domains outlined in the PMBOK® 6th Edition. This comparison will help clarify how each methodology approaches project management.
1. Stakeholder Engagement
Agile
- Emphasizes continuous stakeholder involvement.
- Regular feedback loops via iterations (sprints).
- Focuses on delivering value consistently.
Classical
- Stakeholders are engaged primarily at the beginning and end.
- Communication is often formal and less frequent.
- Requirements are defined upfront and changes are discouraged.
2. Team Performance
Agile
- Promotes self-organizing teams.
- Values collaboration and cross-functionality.
- Team performance is assessed continuously.
Classical
- Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.
- Hierarchical structure may limit team autonomy.
- Performance is measured against predefined milestones.
3. Development Approach
Agile
- Iterative and incremental development.
- Focus on adapting to change and evolving requirements.
- Short cycles allow for faster delivery of features.
Classical
- Linear and sequential development (Waterfall).
- Emphasizes comprehensive planning and documentation.
- Changes can be costly and time-consuming.
4. Change Management
Agile
- Welcomes changing requirements, even late in development.
- Change is seen as a way to improve project outcomes.
- Frequent reassessment of priorities.
Classical
- Changes are managed through a formal change control process.
- Changes can disrupt the project timeline and budget.
- Emphasis on sticking to the original plan.
5. Risk Management
Agile
- Risks are identified and addressed continuously.
- Regular reviews and retrospectives help mitigate risks.
- Focus on delivering the highest value first.
Classical
- Risks are assessed primarily during the planning phase.
- Risk management plans are created and executed.
- Less flexibility in addressing new risks that arise.
6. Communication Management
Agile
- Encourages open and transparent communication.
- Daily stand-ups and regular reviews foster collaboration.
- Emphasizes face-to-face communication.
Classical
- Communication is typically structured and formal.
- Reports and meetings are scheduled at specific intervals.
- Documentation is crucial for communication.
7. Quality Management
Agile
- Quality is built into the process through continuous testing.
- Feedback from stakeholders is integral to quality assurance.
- Focuses on delivering functional increments.
Classical
- Quality is often verified at the end of the project.
- Emphasizes adherence to predefined standards and regulations.
- Quality assurance processes can lead to delays.
8. Integration Management
Agile
- Integration happens regularly throughout the project.
- Continuous integration practices are common.
- Teams work collaboratively to ensure alignment.
Classical
- Integration occurs primarily at defined project phases.
- Requires comprehensive planning and coordination.
- May lead to integration challenges if phases are not aligned.
9. Schedule Management
Agile
- Focuses on short iterations to deliver work in increments.
- Prioritizes flexibility in scheduling based on team velocity.
- Adjusts timelines based on ongoing feedback.
Classical
- Emphasizes detailed upfront scheduling.
- Uses Gantt charts and critical path methods.
- Changes to the schedule can be disruptive.
10. Cost Management
Agile
- Costs are monitored continuously throughout the project.
- Focuses on delivering value over strict adherence to budget.
- Adjustments can be made based on project needs.
Classical
- Budget is established at the beginning and monitored closely.
- Changes to scope can significantly impact costs.
- Emphasizes cost control through proactive management.
Summary Table
(optimized for desktop-view)
Conclusion
Both Agile and Classical Project Management have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between them often depends on the project's nature, complexity, and requirements.
"
[end AI]So far on the output by AI. My personal comments out of experience and analysis following soon.
Stay tuned!
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last update: 25-06-2025 (improved mobile layout)
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