It has been documented that Agile and Stage-Gate management approaches can be combined and used by technology companies to run technical projects efficiently, making them more flexible and adaptable, in order to remain competitive in the fast-paced business world (Conforto & Amaral, 2016). The study found that effective implementation of a hybrid project management methodology is dependent on: a) reducing scope creep in the request phase; b) to offer sufficient Hybrid project .. iii implementation training in management methodology for project teams and have a well-defined financial model in the definition phase;.
INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH
- Introduction
- Description of the problem
- The business environment
- Research objectives
- Scope of the research
- Conclusion
The purpose of this case study is to examine the effective implementation of Agile-Stage-Gate hybrid methodologies (hybrid methods) for IT-based projects in South African organizations. Therefore, it is critical in this study to understand what benefits derive from applying hybrid methodologies when executing IT-based projects in South African organizations.
LITERATURE REVIEW
- Introduction
- Theoretical framework
- Hybrid Methodology
- Implementation of a Hybrid project management methodology
- Benefits of implementing a Hybrid project management methodology
- Challenges of implementing a Hybrid project management methodology
- Conclusion
A hybrid model is a result of project failures of agile and traditional methods (Jaziri et al., 2018). Companies implementing an Agile-Stage-Gate Hybrid method operate at three different levels, which are the operational, tactical and strategic levels (Sommer et al., 2015).
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Research Question 1
Research Question 2
Research Question 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
- Introduction
- Research methodology and design
- Population
- Unit of analysis
- Sampling method and size
- Data collection tool
- Data collection
- Data analysis
- Data quality and trustworthiness
- Research limitations
Achieving the knowledge objective requires first specifying the research topic and then the aspect of the topic being studied. The interview guide questions were transferred to gather opinions and views from the participants regarding the research questions regarding the implementation of a Hybrid project management methodology.
RESULTS
Introduction
Sample description
The qualitative data needed to be collected for the study required a larger sample size to gain in-depth knowledge of the topic. The diversity of these roles includes the necessary representation of activities performed during the delivery of IT-based projects using any of the project management methodologies to accurately answer the research questions of this study. The consent form detailed the purpose of the interview, the subject of the study, the time required for the interview, disclaimer of confidentiality and contact details of the interviewee and supervisor.
Provides consulting services for SAP BI/BW solutions and educational delivery of the entire package course for everything related to SAP. The sample size was selected and coded based on the analysis of the primary data collected.
Coding and analysis process
Future of hybrid at company A 1 D:1 Future of hybrid at company B 1 D:9 Future of hybrid at company E 1 D:2.
Results: Effectiveness of hybrid project management methodology
- Hybrid meaning
- Implementing Hybrid
- Informally implementing Hybrid
- Ensuring Hybrid effectiveness
Hybrid methodology should be practiced throughout the project life cycle by incorporating some elements of Waterfall methodology with Agile methodology practices in a meaningful way. So some aspects of the program can be delivered using the Waterfall method and some aspects can be delivered using the Agile method. Then obviously, with that in place, you will develop the project as required by the business requirements.
The build, deploy, and execute phases of the project lifecycle are when Agile practice is applied. These phases include development, testing, and transition from project owners to business owners for project operationalization.
Results: Benefits of hybrid project management methodology
- Deriving Hybrid advantages
- Hybrid method success criteria
- Measuring benefits
- Advantages interpreted as Hybrid benefits
- Advantages of Hybrid
54 A change in management must be incorporated right from the start of a project, where stakeholders can be included as the delivery process progresses. Getting constant feedback from the business from the iterative process helps set realistic expectations for the benefits to be realized once the solution has been operationalized. How the project team handles ad hoc requests or scope creep also affects the potential benefits of the project.
The benefits of implementing a hybrid methodology can be measured by the time it takes to deliver the solution, whether the solution is comparable to the production environment, and the quality and cost of the solution in the production environment. The positive elements identified during the implementation of a hybrid method emphasize the benefits before the project is completed, which already gives an indication of the expected benefits that will be realized at the end of the project.
Results: Challenges of hybrid project management methodology
- Deriving Hybrid disadvantages
- Disadvantages interpreted as benefits and challenges
- Disadvantages of Hybrid
There is the challenge that any of the project team members may have decided to switch to the Hybrid methodology during project delivery because it suits their expected delivery outcome. This may be done informally without informing the project manager or project leader, which may jeopardize the successful completion of the project. If the people delivering a project are not well trained in implementing a hybrid methodology, this can have major consequences on the effectiveness of the methodology in the project life cycle.
The essence of the successful implementation of the hybrid method is the creation of project teams with human resources that are fully dedicated to the project in question. If any of the stakeholders at any point in the implementation decides to go in a different direction, this poses a threat to the successful implementation of the project.
Data analysis
- Research questions with code groups and codes
A problem comes in when an organization like company S, identified as a company that one of the respondents works for, uses a number of suppliers to deliver their projects whereby these suppliers come in with their different project management methodologies that they try to incorporate. the standard organizational methodology of creating a hybrid method and ultimately causing project failures through 'plug and play'. Adding to the challenges is a lack of buy-in from all relevant stakeholders who are required to be fully committed to meeting the requirements of the project in any form that may arise. Looking at the code with the highest frequency of seventy-two mentions “Understanding of project management methodology”, only D:1, D:3, D:4 and D:7 used the code less than five times compared to the rest of the documents that talk more about understanding project management methodology.
It can be read from the trend that seventy percent of the respondents had more understanding and exposure to project management methodology and also had more to say about it.
Evidence of the themes
67 and business cases often lack the necessary detail which ultimately necessitates a back and forth to try and collect this information during the course of the project. Another challenge is the cost implication associated with clients changing their minds about the details of the scope during project delivery. Deciding which methodology is more appropriate for a project is based more on the requirements rather than the size or cost of the project.
The majority of respondents believed that organizations should develop a framework to help them decide which methodology to use for each IT-based project between waterfall, agile or hybrid. The framework will help ensure that the right methodology is used, which has a major impact on the success of the project.
Conclusion
Being fully Agile requires the organization to be mature enough to gain buy-in or acceptance from all stakeholders. Agile expects the execution of activities to be completed on time, while valuing the ability to go back and improve on what has already been completed. Some organizations have a project management office that becomes a custodian of project management, standards and tools to be used.
Typically, this office prescribes the project management methodology to be used in organizations and may have a policy that allows other methodologies to be combined with the standard. 69 As many organizations informally implement a hybrid methodology in their project management, there is an opportunity for hybrid practices to be used more formally.
DISCUSSION
- Introduction
- Discussion of the effectiveness of hybrid project management methodology
- Hybrid meaning
- Implementing Hybrid
- Informally implementing Hybrid
- Ensuring Hybrid effectiveness
- Discussion of the benefits of hybrid project management methodology
- Deriving Hybrid advantages
- Hybrid method success criteria
- Advantages interpreted as Hybrid benefits
- Discussion of the challenges of hybrid project management methodology
- Deriving Hybrid disadvantages
- Communication
- Hybrid formulation
- Disadvantages interpreted as Hybrid challenges
- Conclusion and findings
Most respondents indicated that the adoption of hybrid as the method of the future would accelerate. Respondents pointed to the negative elements identified during the implementation of a hybrid method that suggests the expected challenges at the end of the project. Cooper and Sommer (2018) argued that: “the main problem of hybrid models is the acquisition of dedicated resources and management skepticism that do not make the model work” (p. 25).
Respondents shared some of the conflicts that arise as a lack of understanding from customers on how the Hybrid model works. Implementing a Hybrid method provides the opportunity for continuous feedback to clients on project progress and ongoing consultation for decision-making.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
Primary findings
The research study shows what the participants found to be the aspects of the effective implementation of a hybrid method. In some cases, a need arises where a secondary method is embedded in the current method somewhere along the project lifecycle phases to ensure successful project delivery. In the study, participants highlighted the importance of identifying the benefits of implementing a hybrid approach.
The key aspects of achieving benefits are working in a flexible and agile environment, providing continuous customer feedback and project team collaboration. The study found that the challenges of implementing a hybrid method are based on how the hybrid method is formulated and the health of communication between project team members, and how issues such as cost, switching methods, customer feedback and system interruptions, training, culture change, multiple vendors, project team and stakeholder buy-in can cause challenges in deploying Hybrid.
Implications for organisations
85 culminates in benefits, we see an improved focus on business value as the customer is continuously involved in the delivery process. If both Waterfall and Agile methods are not carefully combined, they can introduce an element of rework and a lack of information sharing between team members, which delays the completion of the project and can lead to project failure. The choice of methodology, tool, vendor and training affects the cost of the project, so a comprehensive financial model that takes everything into account is needed from the beginning.
Limitations of research
Suggestions for future research
Conclusion
I am working on a qualitative study on the implementation of a Hybrid Project Management Methodology (combining traditional and Agile methods) for IT-based projects in South African based companies. I am engaged in an in-depth study on the implementation of a Hybrid Project Management Methodology, which combines a traditional method such as Waterfall with Agile for IT-based projects in South African organizations. 99 Question 9: How do you decide in your current organization which methodology to use for any IT-based project and at what point in the project do you decide on the choice of methodology.
Question Elaboration: In other words, you choose a method at the beginning or while in the middle of the project you are able to switch from one method to the next. Do you think the framework or some aspects of the framework should focus more on the size of the project or the requirements of the project.
