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Robin Singh

2019100600

A member of your project team is a systems analyst who is old-fashioned and just cannot adjust

to Adaptive Project Framework (APF). Her problem is that the clients/customers are fully

involved and have decision-making authority over the direction that your software development

project is taking. What are the internal and external factors regarding your project that may help

shed light on the PMLC model best suited for your project? How would you justify the most

appropriate PMLC model to be used to satisfy the needs of the client and the systems analyst?

Every project is unique and requires a different approach when it comes to the way it should be

managed at (Burgan & Burgan, 2014) The project life cycle helps identifying the different

phases of the project, and it is common for all projects. According to A Guide to the Project

Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Fifth Edition (Project Management

Institute, 2013), the project life cycle can generally be structured from three different approaches,

based on the unique aspects of the project’s organization, industry, characteristics, and

stakeholders. The three approaches are described as: Predictive (Plan-Driven) project life cycle,

Iterative/ Incremental project life cycle, and Adaptive (Change-Driven) project life cycle.

According to Burgan & Burgan (2014), a predictive project life cycle is best suited for projects

with high-certainty and predictability. An iterative and incremental project life cycle are mainly

used for projects that need the flexibility to manage changing objectives and requirements. And

finally, the third project life cycle, the adaptive PLC, is being used in project that have to respond

to high levels of change and involvement from the stakeholders. “The less certain the project's

end customer is of requirements; the more adaptable the project team's needs are with respect to
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project management processes and practices.” (Burgan & Burgan). In the adaptive PLMCs, the

project sponsor and customer have to be continuously engaged in the project to provide feedback

on its deliverables; without this transparency, it will be difficult to understand whether the

project is going in the right direction. Hence, in this case, I will have to explain these different

approaches to my systems analyst. If out project is managed in a highly uncertain environment,

the involvement of the clients will be essential for the project’s success.

References

Burgan, S. C. & Burgan, D. S. (2014). One size does not fit all: Choosing the right project

approach. Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2014—North America, Phoenix,

AZ. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.

Project Management Institute. (2013). A guide to the project management body of knowledge

(PMBOK® guide) – Fifth edition. Newtown Square, PA: Author.