We are working on adding quizzes, which will be set up to hone in on specific areas such as risk management, effective meetings, or communications plans.

If there are ideas you have for what would be handled by the project management quiz, we would like to know before we go live. Give us some ideas here, or when the online quiz is available, give it a test run.

• Linear or waterfall
• Spiral development
• Product development

All three of these types of methodologies can be related to process management in some way or another.

Linear or Waterfall Project Management Methodology — This methodology is sometimes referred to as the Life cycle, and is the best known of all project management methodologies. This methodology centers around a sequential process which is oriented toward computer software and other similar applications. Unfortunately, this methodology tends to also prohibit development on a parallel level.

Spiral Development Project Management Methodology — This approach on the other hand, is based on the idea that the development process is naturally very evolutionary, which means that you can design a program initially, and then constantly revise the program in order to add additional work phases or to enhance specific features.

Product Development Project Management Methodology — This methodology approach combines elements from the other two methodologies that were mentioned, but with an added nuance. This methodology uses product orientation as the mane base for the entire product development process.

- A project management methodology should define all of the stages of work. These stages of work may vary based on how an organization wants to chunk out the work, but should define all five “W”s. These five are: Who, What, Where, When and Why, and they should all be established. In order for you to be able to define the direction of your project you must be able to synchronize all of the work responsibilities and relationships between all of the different steps in the methodology. The definitions should have all of the following characteristics:

a – They should be measurable. You should be able to evaluate each stage of work in terms of how long it is going to take for you to perform You should also provide criteria which will substantiate the completion of deliverables, allowing you to essentially ensure that a quality product will be delivered.

b – They should be independent of techniques and tools. These techniques and tools may be deployed as they are required, but they should be independent of the project management methodology.

c – They should be independent of other aspects of project management. These methodologies can exist with project management systems or even without them.

If your methodology does not match the criteria listed above, then the odds are that it is not really a methodology, but rather is a specific technique or a tool.

There are three types of project management methodologies, which will be covered in part 3 of the methologies series.