All companies, sooner or later, face a decision: which methodology (approach) will they adopt when tackling projects (whether products or services sold)?
Predictive approach vs. Agile approach
- Predictive approach (planned and rigid). E.g., building a bridge.
- Adaptive approach (agile and flexible). E.g., implementing new software.
Experience tells us that it’s neither black nor white, even if the company’s sector might seem like the decisive factor—after all, a construction firm would likely go for a predictive approach, and an IT consultancy for an adaptive one.
Well, no.
Why?
- Because the world is not made up only of construction firms and consultancies. That’s obvious.
- Because we know that every project is singular and unique.
- And every client is also singular and unique (that we know even better).
So, welcome to uncertainty—welcome to real life.
Let’s talk then about methodological permeability as the virtue and culture that every modern company should adopt if it wants to significantly increase the success and profitability of its projects.
What is hybrid project management according to the PMI?
The Project Management Institute introduced the concept of hybrid in 2021, defining it as: “Combining elements of predictive and agile approaches to tailor the project management process to the nature of the work and the organizational context.”
Conclusion: tools, not barriers
In other words, it’s about the team’s ability to integrate different project management approaches and tools depending on the specific needs of each project. It’s no longer about choosing between the rigor of the traditional approach or the flexibility of agile, but about understanding that each project is unique—and methodologies should be tools, not barriers.