What is Hybrid Methodology in Project Management?

Hybrid project management refers to combining two or more methodologies, thereby allowing a project manager to enjoy the benefits of multiple methodologies. This project management methodology allows you the flexibility to use elements from different methodologies. 

Organizations that harness hybrid project management methods are more likely to reap the benefits like speed, adaptability, flexibility, etc. Hybrid project management methodology may seem difficult, but once you get the hang of it, it will make your tasks significantly easier.

What is Hybrid Methodology in Project Management?  

The term “hybrid” refers to the result obtained from a combination of two. A hybrid methodology in project management is developed through a combination of two or more methodologies. This helps to bring together the benefits of the features of all the constituting methodologies. 

There are a number of project management methodologies like Waterfall, Agile, Critical path method, Six Sigma, PRINCE2, etc. One can choose from any of these methodologies and merge them together. However, when we speak of the hybrid project management methodology, we usually refer to the amalgamation of Agile and Waterfall methodologies. To learn more about the different project management methodologies, Project Management training online can be a great start to your management journey. 

Which Cases Hybrid Methodology is Best Suited?  

There are several factors that have led to the emergence of the hybrid methodology in project management. Some of them are:

• Project Complexity: Projects these days are becoming extremely complex. This calls for an improved project management methodology that can help monitor every project step. 
• Cutthroat Market Competition: Since technology is advancing and new players are entering the market, businesses should try to figure out ways to survive the competition. Having a flexible methodology for project management helps to respond to the changes proactively. 
• Changing Expectations of Customers: The expectations and needs of customers are ever-changing. Therefore, businesses should be able to respond to their requirements more quickly than before.

While the Waterfall methodology is ideally suited for projects with a clear process, the Agile approach is suited for complex projects with a lot of uncertainty. Combining both methodologies is beneficial for large-scale organizations as it can help improve project outcomes. Not only this, but projects that have an aggressive delivery schedule are also likely to benefit from a hybrid project management model. 

Therefore, it is safe to say that the projects that have a short-term focus on the features and lay emphasis on how the project will deliver results, in the long run, should opt for the hybrid approach.

Roles and Responsibilities in Hybrid Project Method 

As the hybrid approach in project management is an amalgamation of the Waterfall and Agile methodologies, it adopts effective features from these two methodologies. It adopts the concept of a project manager from the Waterfall-related approach and the idea of a scrum master from the Agile methodology. Let us now understand how a combination of these two helps in the effective execution of the projects. 

The project manager is entrusted with the overall responsibility of managing the entire project. They must make sure that the project is being planned effectively. The project manager further breaks down the tasks associated with a project into different time frames and divides the primary goals into further subgoals. This makes it easy to execute the tasks and monitor the progress from time to time. 

After the goals have been established, the project manager defines the tasks to be fulfilled under each component. A scrum master must ensure that “Scrum principles” are applied. 

Scrum is an Agile methodology for project management that is applied to tasks where changes are likely to occur. In scrum methodology, there are short daily meetings, and the work cycles are kept short and cumulative, known as sprints. These sprints are kept 1-4 weeks long, which makes it easy to incorporate the changes that may occur during the project execution.

Therefore, the project manager and the scrum master work in collaboration with one another to ensure the smooth execution of the projects. The scrum master looks over the sprints, after which the project manager comes to review the results. They then suggest the necessary improvements to be made, which the scrum master later implements. 

Both roles play a significant role; therefore, skilled professionals in the role must acquire the right skill set. Online PMP certification is one such way to achieve that. Let us further explore the advantages of using the hybrid project management methodology. 

Benefits of Hybrid Project Management 

There are many benefits of combining the Waterfall and Agile project management methodologies. Some of them are as follows:

• Suitable for a Variety of Projects: The hybrid methodology for project management takes the best of the Agile and Waterfall methodologies of project management. It is flexible and can easily be applied to almost any team size. This makes it an ideal choice for a wide range of projects. 
• Planning can be Done in Detail: With the help of the hybrid project management model, businesses can plan better. All the plans can be made in detail, along with the cost estimation for each sprint. Breaking the project into sprints allows for a smooth review process. Not only this, but sprints also help to predict how quickly the goals will be achieved. 
• Division of Responsibilities: This is one of the most important advantages of the hybrid project management process. It maps the project right from the initiation to the completion. It also mentions in detail the entire scope of the project while also allocating the responsibilities as to who is involved in each of the steps. This ensures a smooth monitoring process. 
• Flexibility: The hybrid project management methodology incorporates the adaptability of Agile. This helps to ensure that the projects are flexible enough to include changes that might come mid-way.

Hope this gives you an idea about the advantages of hybrid project management. You can best understand these by going through a hybrid project management case study as well as navigating through PRINCE2 certification training course. 

How do you Blend Project Management Methodologies? 

Blending project management methodologies means combining more than one project management methodology. This can be done in the following way:

Choose Methodologies that you Want to Blend 

To begin with, you will first have to choose the project management methodologies that you wish to combine. For this, you will have to develop an understanding of the features of the different program management methodologies. 

Select the Elements Where you Want to Incorporate Specific Methodologies.

You will have to identify the project parts that are strictly defined and the elements that require constant upgradation. Let us take the instance of an Agile-Waterfall hybrid. 

For the aspects that are rigid and strictly defined, apply the elements of the Waterfall methodology. On the other hand, the aspects that are not clearly defined and may require frequent changes have to be assigned principles of the Agile methodology. 

Team Members Should be Adequately Trained

Businesses have their ways of applying the hybrid methodology to execute their projects. Therefore, organizations must train team members to be thoroughly informed of the hybrid project management tools used for the specific project. They should understand what kind of issues the hybrid methodology will address and what will be the results thus obtained. 

Incorporating Hybrid Components 

The organization must apply the elements of the hybrid methodology in the project. Teams must work together to apply the principles to the initially identified areas. They should also ensure that the strategy is adhered to throughout the project. 

Discussing the Effectiveness of Project Methodology

Teams should meet once in a while and discuss the effectiveness of the methodologies applied. Feedback and reviews are an important part of any project that can help organizations improvise on the methodology.

Timely evaluation helps to identify the small adjustments that need to be made in the hybrid methodology. The process involves continuous learning, adjustment, and development to ensure that the style works for the project it has been applied to.

Hybrid Project Management Process Examples 

Apart from the combination of Agile and Waterfall methodologies, some other hybrid methodologies for project management can be used as per the needs of the organization. They are Scrum-Waterfall, Lean-Waterfall, Lean-Agile, and so on. 

Choosing the right hybrid project management methodology depends on the deliverables of the project, its goals and objectives, and the timelines. The hybrid project management manifesto states that every project has its own unique nature and requirement. Therefore, it is ideal to take the best of every project management methodology and make a single framework that will cater to the needs of the project.

However, there are some shortcomings in the hybrid methodology of project management. The next section discusses the disadvantages of hybrid project management methodology.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Methodology  

When you harness the use of a hybrid project management approach for any organization, make sure you are aware of all the aspects of it. 

Before you choose two projects you wish to merge, ensure you have practical knowledge about them. Choosing the wrong methodology can further enhance the obstacles. Your stakeholders may not be adequately informed about the hybrid model that you are choosing. This can be a challenge while communicating project updates to the stakeholders. 

Conclusion  

To make the right choice while merging project management methodologies, you need to be knowledgeable about the features of the different methodologies. You can opt for KnowledgeHut's best Project Management certifications, which bring you the excellent opportunity to learn the intricacies of project management from the comfort of your home or workspace. 

Once you have developed a command over these concepts, you will be able to manage and execute all projects effectively.