Project management is a crucial skill for any business that wants to deliver value to its customers and stakeholders. However, traditional project management methods, which rely on rigid plans, detailed documentation, and long-term forecasts, may not be suitable for today's fast-changing and competitive environment. That's why many project managers are turning to agile and lean methodologies, which offer more flexibility, adaptability, and efficiency in managing projects.

What are agile and lean methodologies?

Agile and lean are two popular project management methodologies that originated in the software development and manufacturing industries. In practice, these methodologies help project teams deliver faster, better-quality products and services to their clientele. Although these approaches can be used in tandem (often referred to as the Lean-Agile approach) to achieve continuous improvement, most organizations default to using either one approach or the other.

Agile methodology

Agile methodology is a management approach that divides a project into small phases to make it easier to manage during the development process. In agile project management, project teams use multiple short cycles called sprints to improve the speed, quality, and flexibility of a project. This methodology relies heavily on consistent stakeholder collaboration and continuous improvement during each phase of a project's life cycle to optimize the development process.

As mentioned in the [agile manifesto](https://agilemanifesto.org/), there are four core values of the agile methodology that differ from other project management methodologies. Agile methods focus on:

- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
- Working software over comprehensive documentation.
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
- Responding to change over following a plan.

These core values coupled with the [12 principles of agile project management](https://agilemanifesto.org/principles.html) help support agile teams over the project life cycle by mandating an iterative development process that embraces change and encourages stakeholder collaboration.

Lean methodology

Lean methodology is a business philosophy that enables project managers to continuously improve their business processes while eliminating waste. Lean methodology encompasses both lean thinking and lean practices. Lean thinking is a thought process that focuses on creating value with fewer resources and less waste. Lean practice, often referred to as lean management, consists of continuous experimentation with the goal of achieving perfection with zero waste.

In the lean methodology, there are five key principles:

- Identify value
- Create a value stream map
- Develop a continuous workflow
- Create a pull system
- Enable continuous improvement

In short, the lean methodology focuses on how project teams work, encouraging organizations to eliminate waste, or anything else that does not contribute value to the client. In this methodology, production is based on demand rather than supply.

How to implement agile and lean methodologies for project management

Implementing agile and lean methodologies for project management requires a shift in mindset, culture, and practices. Here are some steps you can take to adopt these methodologies for your projects:

1. Define your project vision and goals. Before you start any project, you need to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve, why you want to achieve it, and how you will measure your success. This will help you align your team and stakeholders around a common purpose and direction.

2. Choose the right methodology for your project. Depending on the nature, scope, and complexity of your project, you may opt for either agile or lean methodology, or a combination of both. For example, if your project involves developing a new software product or service that requires frequent feedback from customers and users, you may benefit from using agile methodology. On the other hand, if your project involves improving an existing process or system that has a lot of waste or inefficiency, you may benefit from using lean methodology.

3. Form a cross-functional team. One of the key aspects of both agile and lean methodologies is having a team that can work together effectively and autonomously. You should form a team that has all the necessary skills and expertise to deliver value to your customers and stakeholders. You should also empower your team to make decisions, solve problems, and communicate openly.

4. Plan your project in iterations. Instead of creating a detailed plan for the entire project upfront, you should plan your project in small increments that can be completed within a short time frame (usually 2-4 weeks). Each iteration should have a clear goal, scope, deliverable, and deadline. You should also involve your customers and stakeholders in defining the requirements and priorities for each iteration.

5. Execute your project with agility and efficiency. During each iteration, you should follow the principles and practices of your chosen methodology to deliver value to your customers and stakeholders. For example, if you are using agile methodology, you should follow the [scrum framework](https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-scrum), which involves daily stand-up meetings, sprint planning, sprint review, and sprint retrospective. If you are using lean methodology, you should follow the [plan-do-check-act cycle](https://asq.org/quality-resources/pdca-cycle), which involves identifying problems, implementing solutions, measuring results, and making improvements.

6. Monitor and improve your project performance. Throughout your project, you should collect and analyze data and feedback to evaluate your project performance and identify areas for improvement. You should also communicate your progress and challenges to your team and stakeholders regularly. You should use tools and techniques such as [Kanban boards](https://www.planview.com/resources/articles/lkdc-what-is-kanban/), [burn-down charts](https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-is-a-burndown-chart), [value stream maps](https://www.planview.com/resources/articles/lkdc-value-stream-mapping/), and [customer satisfaction surveys](https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/customer-satisfaction-survey-questions/) to visualize and measure your project performance.

Benefits of agile and lean methodologies for project management

Agile and lean methodologies for project management offer many benefits for project managers and their teams, such as:

- Faster delivery of value to customers and stakeholders
- Higher quality of products and services
- Greater customer satisfaction and loyalty
- More flexibility and adaptability to changing requirements and expectations
- More collaboration and innovation among team members and stakeholders
- More learning and improvement opportunities
- Less waste and inefficiency in processes and resources