International Conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION

Vol. XXIX No 1 2023

PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES IN THE ORGANIZATIONS OF

YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW

Nicoleta-Madălina NIȚĂ*, Sebastian-Emanuel STAN**, Aurel Mihail ȚÎȚU***

*Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania

**“Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy, Sibiu, Romania
***“Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Romania,
Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
[email protected], [email protected],
[email protected]

Abstract: The history has shown us over time that each way of managing an activity can lead to a
different result, which has given rise to multiple approaches to the project management discipline
through diverse models and methodologies, each one coming with a number of advantages and
disadvantages. The software engineering branch is a climate where projects have a lot of room for
flexibility, change and adaptability. However, this scientific paper aims to highlight the characteristics
of these techniques, provided by experts in the field through the scientific literature, along with an
original point of view regarding their future improvement. Project management is a complex, diverse
and encompassing discipline, so each new model or methodology has come to supplement the
shortcomings of the previous one. Starting from these, there are a number of factors that must be
taken into account when determining how a project should be managed, such as: industry, size,
resources, etc., and this paper presents the areas of applicability for each methodology in part, as well
as data in which several approaches intertwine resulting in hybrid project management approaches.
In the end, some conclusions and predictions about the methodologies in the field of software
development industry are presented.

Keywords: methodology, model, software engineering, project

1. Introduction project management as we know it today,

Since ancient times, people started to use thanks to complex projects that needed both
project management tools and techniques planning and controlling activities. In order
by instinct, because they were facing to document all this research and
challenges on a daily basis and looking for development tremendous amount of work,
solutions to be more efficient and effective different methodologies and scientific ways
was the only way to progress. The of working were invented in the form of
organizations were like a giant sponge, literature to support with the sustainable
meant to absorb all the knowledge development of organizations [1]. As the
discovered in order to improve themselves world was evolving on multiple areas like
and therefore produce more, sell more and technology, social and emotional
grow more. It was the evolution of society intelligence behaviour, this paper aims to
itself that contributed to the foundation of present how the project management world

DOI: 10.2478/kbo-2023-0022
© 2023 Nicoleta-Mădălina Niță et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No
Derivatives 3.0 License.

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was influenced by the evolution of for more knowledge, to learn new things
telecommunication industry, technology every day and to deeper specialize on the
and construction areas and therefore the specific areas of interest [3]. This approach
actual documentation that we have later comes with better incomes, less
represents a mix of lessons learned from the working hours for the same activities, quick
history. Depending on the result that an learning capacity for other tasks and
organization wants to achieve, the adaptability improved in case of challenges.
application of a project management tools This paperwork has the mission to put on
can make the difference between number of the table a deep analysis of the advantages
resources used, time consumed, financial and disadvantages of each model and
cost or even risks undertaken. Although at methodology used in the project
the beginning of history people were not management field, emphasizing where they
prepared with the right knowledge to could be better applied and what are their
differentiate how to approach a project, components. For this research a mix of
nowadays it is more convenient to invest in qualitative methods were used, as content
the educational training of people involved analysis, narrative analysis and grounded
in a project, rather than using a fit-to-all theory.
approach. The information itself was
always the key element that led the society 2. Project management methodologies
further and although boots-on-the-ground used up until today in software
project experience will always be the best engineering
teacher, a certification in a project The history of project management presents
management methodology will be an a collection of best practices, improved
advantage, as well, for both the from one methodology to another. It is all
organization and individuals, as a good about the retrospective capacity of the
foundation of knowledge in the field will individuals to reflect on what could have
broaden the horizons for novelty, been done better in order to minimize risks,
innovation and improvement [2]. For a resources used and time consumed. The
sustainable development of an organization, retrospective approaches were being done
the professional training of the employees in each industry where a complex project
plays a very important role, as owning a was developed, because in the early ages
diploma or a certification in a certain field efficiency and effectiveness were not as
is the assurance that the decisions and risks important as they are today [4]. The
undertaken are seriously analysed through continuous seek of optimization made
multiple points of view. Nowadays possible the elaboration of multiple
companies include several hours of training methodologies and models, that are still in
in the schedule of employees on a weekly use nowadays. Seeing the success of
or monthly basis and training materials and projects and the quality of the results
assuming the cost for the certification delivered, many software producers
exam, as well, it is part of the benefits included these methods in their products,
package. The software development making them affordable for all types of
industry took advantage of the models and organizations, both public and private.
methodologies from this field only lately, People were trained regularly to use these
since the first computer was invented, and methods instead of none, which facilitated
even now they built an entire culture to implementing microcultures inside
research, develop, test and produce based organizations, that the work needs to be
on the actual scientific literature. Therefore, documented, analysed and improved for the
a career in this branch will come also with future [5]. This approach has put a
the responsibility of each employee to seek beneficial light over the certified people,

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that had the chance to get a diploma of their easy scheduling of tasks, facile creation of
knowledge since 1969, when the Project WBS (tasks, sub-tasks), easily integrated
Management Institute (PMI) was founded into software tools, clear visualization of
in order to promote the project management the project status, resource management
industry as a discipline. It took over 16 based on period of time, improved time
years for the first individual to get the management and transparent visualization
Project Management Professional (PMP) of the belonging of the tasks. As
accreditation at PMI, which improved the disadvantages of the Gantt chart could be
prestige that this discipline takes effort and the extra time needed for updating the chart,
persistence. the request for training in creating and
2.1. The beginning of Project maintaining it, difficulty in viewing the
Management backlog, the measure unit system is not
The world of project management debuted adapted to the country where the chart
with the Gantt chart invention, in the applies, high chances of human errors in
beginning of 1920 years. This was a huge assigning dependent tasks and extra payable
milestone for each major project developed hours in projects managed via Gantt charts.
in that area, as it was composed out of a 2.2. Project Management recognized as
chart with calendar planning split on discipline
activities, that facilitated a better Between 1958–1979 the project
visualisation of status and duration of a management industry was highly
project or task. Usually, a Gantt chart influenced by the development of the
includes the Work Breakdown Structure information technology sector. Starting
(WBS), as well. This one was a later with the Polaris Program [6], the need of a
invention from 1957, that was focusing on mathematical calculation to determine the
dividing a project into multiple manageable deadline of a project was highly in demand
tasks and subtasks. The key element of the and therefore the Program Evaluation and
Work Breakdown Structure is the 100% Review Technique (PERT) was founded. It
rule, that states that in this structure the consists of a diagram with the activities
scope of project must fit 100% and all needed in a project, together with their
deliverables must be included. The most duration and milestones required, as shown
important advantages of the Gantt chart are: in the Figure 1.

Figure 1: An example of PERT Network with 7 milestones[7]

Source: PERT Chart [Internet]. Accessed on 30th April 2023. Available from:
https://www.productplan.com/glossary/pert-chart/

Then, three scenarios will be taken into of PERT method are: easy visualization on
consideration for the estimation of the tasks’ dependency, ideal method for
deadline: an optimistic one, a pessimistic holistically view of projects, „What if“
one and a most likely one. The PERT analysis possible for each project, accurate
method is still in use for the projects with a in planning projects with high degree of
high degree of uncertainty. The advantages uncertainty. The disadvantages of the PERT

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method are: low degree of adaptability in mathematical formulas the shortest way to
change management, inefficient for shared achieve the expected results. The Critical
resources in different projects, clearance of Path Method is still at hand nowadays for
project scope and plan is needed at the projects where the deliverables, resources
beginning of the scheduling phase, extra and deadlines are known from the
payable hours needed for managing beginning and no change is expected in the
schedules via PERT diagram. In order to project plan. The most important
better emphasize the benefits of PERT advantages and disadvantages of the
technique, the Critical Path Method (CPM) Critical Path Method (CPM) can be seen in
was invented. This is showing via the table below:

Table 1 Advantages and Disadvantages of CPM

Advantages Disadvantages
Visualization of tasks that can run in parallel Resource planning is not possible

Transparency in showing the critical The duration of activities can be hardly

activities of the project estimated
Easy to understand graphic design of the The shortest way to the same results is not
network always clear
It shows the activities that depend on each Not suitable for complex projects
other
Expectation management is accurately Accurate calculations must be done to reflect
explained the critical path.
Effective for simple projects Extra payable hours for managing schedules
via CPM

2.3. Project Management in the Human – solutions, that were able to track the
Machine Colaboration efficiency and effectiveness, growing up
After 1980 the multiplication of hardware their productivity, as well. [8] With regards
and software tools like the personal to the software development industry, when
computer (PC), the printer and different the Waterfall Model was first developed it
project management information brought significant benefits in the analysis
technology tools facilitated the enrichment and coding phase of projects, as it is
of organizations with multiple smart presented in the Figure 2:

Figure 2: The Waterfall Model

Its mission was to document each stage clear view over the solution in general [9].
very well before the actual implementation It contains multiple steps disposed as in a
phase of the project and it aims to having a waterfall, totally dependent on each other,

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and focusing on firstly understanding what the Waterfall Model can be seen in the table
needs to be done and then applying it [10]. below:
The main advantages and disadvantages of

Table 2 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Waterfall Model

Advantages Disadvantages
Progress measuring is easy High risks involved
Simple structure No space for innovation
Clear knowledge transfer No customer involvement

Because the evolution of the society is in a to develop an improvement of it, known as

dynamic pace, full of challenges, as the Agile Methodology, as shown in the Figure
Waterfall Model was resilient to changes, 3:
the project management society was forced

Figure 3: The Agile Methodology

It came to provide better adaptability when flexible way to share knowledge within the
discussing about changes in a customer's team, to deliver continuously results and to
order or just overall, so the algorithm was increase the resilience in case of threats,
to produce and deliver in stages, also instead of the Waterfall Model that was
known as iterations, which facilitated a being built as a monolith and in case of
faster response rate and a better team errors the whole product was affected [12].
collaboration [11]. This approach is The main advantages and disadvantages of
contained in multiple methods like the Agile Methodology can be seen in the
SCRUM, Kanban, etc. and it provides a table below:

Table 3 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Agile Methodology

Advantages Disadvantages
High adaptability to changes Difficult quantification of the overall work
Risk reduction No clear visualization of the result
High team cooperation between
Fragmented delivery of product
stakeholders
Quick Return of Investment (ROI) Limited documentation
Predictable overall costs Uneven resource allocation

3. Conclusions products delivered. On a larger scale, the

In the project management discipline, the same models applied in management
analysed models are widely used, due to the discipline might not present the same
high R.O.I. compared to the quality of benefits, because they are mainly focused

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on specific areas and not on the entire The communication with human resources
programs and portfolios, which represent will be much more important in the future,
the organisation’s strategy. No although they will collaborate with robots,
methodology will be able to face all machines and informatic system tools, but
challenges of a project, for this reason the they will also have to control them, to make
right percentage of experience and literature some space for creativity, without altering
knowledge will lead the way to a in any way the personal values of each
sustainable development for each other. Hybrid approaches in project
organization. The modern project management industry focuses on learning
management society faces dynamic changes everything from retrospectives, mitigating
in every moment like: how remote working and foreseeing risks, taking each challenge
is showing us how flexibility needs to be a as an opportunity and applying the
key element in each project, how knowledge from scientific literature as
automation tools could not foresee human starting point for development, not
resources problems like lack of motivation, necessarily as a standard. The latest
burn-out or lack of competences and approach called Agile has taught the world
knowledge, how digitalization is bringing about adaptability, change and results in
the data collection topic to the next level, uneven situations and for an improvement
being able to gather information of that, new approaches will have to come
automatically about project in real time. with flexibility, as well.

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