The Rise of Hybrid Project Management Approaches.

Frankly, sticking with the same methodology for a bulk of projects is not only a bad idea; it also puts your team on the fast track to failure. Hybrid project management features a new way of combining different methodologies—mostly Agile and Waterfall—to pioneer stability, engagement, and efficiency for teams across projects and industries. Growing in its adoption, according to PMI’s study (2019), 60% of highly competent Agile project management companies use hybrid project management.

In projects where Agile fails to provide an exact budget or timeframe and Waterfall is a static dead-end, blended project management approaches can be your way out. A calculated mix of project management methodologies gives your team the leeway to plan projects with flexibility and structure. Since Agile isn’t committed to achieving long term goals and Waterfall fails to respond actively to change, individual elements from the two can be optimized to create a custom combination.

For instance, integrating the?iterative element from Agile into Waterfall can increase ongoing communication between the stakeholders, cultivating a dynamic environment promoting project progress. Hybrid methodology also provides a cure for Waterfall’s flaws: lack of client collaboration and repetitive product reviews. Backed by hybrid styles, teams can significantly cut down documentation, picking out only the required files to speed up the process.

Helming a Hybrid PM Strategy the Right Way

1.?????Identifying Issues

Directly switching to a blended project management style is like doing intense cardio on Day 1 of your exercise routine—you’ll burn out. Instead, you should shift from conventional to hybrid PM in stages. Identifying the issues you face with your current approach and then working your way towards a cross between two (or more) methodologies is a good place to start because:

1. It highlights the loose ends that must be tied up and
2. Your team is updated and on board with the hybrid approach from the very start

Place problems that are most urgent and can considerably enhance workflows if resolved, to the top of the list.

2.??????Blend It Right

If you’re puzzled over what methodology to use for which parts of your project, start from the top. Determine which aspects of your project call for a Waterfall approach. That can include fixed and strictly outlined deliverables, deadlines, requirements, and constraints. To establish your Agile framework, include deliverables, requirements, or resources that are in the pre-mature stage or subject to change.

3.?????Train Your Team

Presuming that your team has prior knowledge of the topic is sailing head-on into the storm with not so much as a lifejacket. Training not only imparts education about the target topic but also instils confidence in your team about their abilities. Your training plans must target beginners and be clear in conveying its meaning. While introducing what Agile, Waterfall and hybrid approaches are and how they will help in achieving project excellence, make sure to explain technical terms. Updated, your team can now pitch in with new ideas and perspectives on executing the hybrid approach.

4.?????A Dash of Hybrid

?Before you kick your 1st hybrid project into high gear, you must select a single blended strategy and stay true to it till the end. Switching approaches halfway through a project can be difficult to keep up with and your analysis of the approach will be only half as helpful in such a case. Moreover, remember to accept feedback from your team as it will give you an insight into the operations and make processes speedy and seamless.

5.??????Modify Hybrid PM to Suit Project Needs

Hybrid project management experts adapt their hybrid strategy for every project they are assigned. Whilst implementing a hybrid technique, you’ll fail more times than you succeed. However, every attempt is a learning curve and after a few tries, you’ll be able to identify potential shortcomings and evade them to get the perfect cross of Agile and Waterfall.

Endnote:

Embracing hybrid styles doesn’t have to mean the end of using Agile or Waterfall individually. Use the approach that fits together like puzzle pieces because that is the art of executing hybrid PM. You can switch new projects up with hybrid elements and rework them according to what your team and project demand. Parting advice: use task management software to keep your head in the game and submit projects well before they are due.

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