Project Management Methodologies Series | [1]: A Comparison of the Most Popular Project Management References

Project management is no longer a management luxury; it has become an essential element for organizations' success and achieving their strategic objectives. Therefore, many bodies and organizations have developed project management references and methodologies that help teams and projects adhere to best practices. Among the most widely used references globally are:

1. ISO 21500.
2. The PMBOK Guide issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
3. PRINCE2 methodology.
4. Agile methodology (especially Scrum).
5. and some other frameworks such as IPMA and Lean Project Management.

This article provides an overview of each of these references, then presents a detailed comparison that includes similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and best use cases.

First: An overview of each reference

ISO 21500 – Guidance on Project Management

1. 
   
2. Issuer: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
3. Definition: An international standard that provides general guidance for project management, focusing on standardized terminology and processes.
4. Objective: To provide a unified language and shared understanding among all project stakeholders.
5. 
   

PMBOK® – Project Management Body of Knowledge

1. 
   
2. Issuer: Project Management Institute (PMI) – United States.
3. Definition: A comprehensive reference guide that defines the recognized knowledge of the project management profession.
4. Current Version: 7th Edition (2021) – Focuses on principles rather than processes.
5. 
   

PRINCE2 – Projects in Controlled Environments

1. Issuer: Axelos – United Kingdom.
2. Definition: A flexible, customizable methodology focused on controlling the project environment from start to finish.
3. Objective: To execute projects in a way that is easily controlled through defined roles and processes.
4. 
   

Agile/Scrum

1. 
   
2. Issuer: Software technical and developer community (Agile Alliance and others).
3. Definition: An agile development framework that emphasizes iteration and continuous interaction with the customer.
4. Objective: To enable teams to adapt to change quickly.
5. 
   

IPMA – International Project Management Association

1. 
   
2. Definition: A European methodology that focuses on project manager competencies (behavioral, technical, and contextual).
3. Objective: Develop individual project management competencies rather than focusing solely on processes.
4. 
   

Second: Similarities between References

Third: Main points of difference

Fourth: Advantages and disadvantages of each reference

ISO 21500

1. 
   
2. Advantages:
3. - Standardized language.
4. - Simplifies concepts.
5. - globally adoptable.
6. 
   
7. Disadvantages:
8. - Does not include clear implementation steps or tools.
9. 
   

PMBOK

1. Advantages:
2. - Comprehensive.
3. - globally recognized.
4. - supports professional certifications (PMP).
5. 
   
6. Disadvantages:
7. - May be too technical and difficult to implement without proper training.
8. 
   

PRINCE2

1. 
   
2. Advantages:
3. - Clear methodology.
4. - strong focus on governance.
5. - customizable.
6. 
   
7. Disadvantages:
8. - Requires careful training and implementation.
9. - may be complex for small projects.
10. 
    

Agile/Scrum

1. 
   
2. Advantages:
3. - Rapid response to change.
4. - continuous customer engagement.
5. - high flexibility.
6. 
   
7. Disadvantages:
8. - May not be suitable for fixed or long-term projects.
9. - requires a mature team.
10. 
    
11. 
    

IPMA

Advantages:

- Develops individual skills and competencies.

- holistic view.

1. 
   
2. Disadvantages:
3. - Less commonly used in traditional organizations.
4. - less focus on processes.
5. 
   

Fifth: When should you use each reference?

Methodology

Best Use Cases

Conclusion

Each of these frameworks has its strengths and weaknesses. The optimal choice is not to choose just one framework, but rather to combine more than one, depending on the nature of the project and the organization's culture. Smart organizations know when and where to apply each framework to maximize their project management success.