{"id":2292,"date":"2022-09-15T11:40:47","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T09:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/?p=2292"},"modified":"2024-12-05T11:33:25","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T10:33:25","slug":"hybrid-project-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/hybrid-project-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Hybrid Project Management \u2013 Combining Agile and Traditional Methods"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Agile or traditional? If you are weighing the pros and cons of both project management methods, there is a good alternative. Work with both methods by using <strong>hybrid project management<\/strong>. This article explains the best scenarios for using this hybrid approach. An example is used to illustrate how hybrid project management methodology is put into practice. <strong>In the following sections, you will learn:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel1\">What is \u201chybrid project management\u201d?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel2\">Which scenarios are best suited to hybrid project management?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel3\">Roles and processes in the traditional project lifecycle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel4\">By contrast: agile work methods<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel5\">Resource and capacity planning in agile projects<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel6\">Hybrid project management: optimally combining the two methods<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel7\">Hybrid project management: example<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel8\">Traditional and agile methods within a company: using both methods<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel9\">Combining both methods within a single project<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel10\">Agile, traditional or hybrid approaches in multi-project management?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel11\">Conclusion and recommendations<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel1\"><strong>What Is \u201cHybrid Project Management\u201d?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!--'Made with TweetDis plugin for Wordpress'--><div  class=\"tweetdis_bl td-float-none tweets-block-wrap tweet-box td_box_01  td_color-1\">\n                       <a class=\"tweet-box-link tweets-themes-01\" href=\"\" onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?lang=en&text=%E2%80%9CHybrid%20project%20management%E2%80%9D%20refers%20to%20methods%20that%20combine%20planning%20strategies%20from%20the%20traditional%20PM%20environment%20with%20the%20agile%20methodology%E2%80%99s%20flexible%20approach. https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/s2ev3bl&count=none','_blank','width=500,height=500'); return false;\">\n                            <p class=\"td_\">\u201cHybrid project management\u201d refers to methods that combine planning strategies from the traditional PM environment with the agile me&shy;thodol&shy;ogy\u2019s flexible approach.<\/p>\n                            <span class=\"td_clear br_block\">\n                                <span class=\"click-to-tweet\">\n                                    <span><i><\/i>Click to tweet<\/span>\n                                <\/span>\n                            <\/span>\n                       <\/a>\n                    <\/div><\/blockquote>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/dergipark.org.tr\/en\/download\/article-file\/713866\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hybrid approach to project management<\/a> thereby integrates the various methods (such as PMI and Scrum) or the use of diverse elements from various methods (such as User Stories from Scrum with the V model XT software specifications).<\/p>\n<div id=\"id695737dfb5b25\" class=\"iframecontainer iframecontainer--hidden\">\n            <div class=\"iframecontainer__head\" style=\"background: #D60B52!important;\">\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__head__inner\" style=\"color:#ffffff;\" data-for=\"#id695737dfb5b25\">\n                    <p><strong>PDF Download: <\/strong> Comparing PM Methodologies: Agile, Traditional, and Hybrid<\/p>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__head__icon\" data-for=\"#id695737dfb5b25\">\n                    <svg width=\"10px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"1092 550 10 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\n                        <polygon class=\"iframecontainer__head__icon__pfeil\"  data-for=\"#id695737dfb5b25\" stroke=\"none\" fill=\"#ffffff\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" points=\"1093.875 550 1101.875 558 1093.875 566 1092 564.125 1098.125 558 1092 551.875\"><\/polygon>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"iframecontainer__iframe\">\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__iframe__inner\">\n                    <p>This downloadable article about project management methodologies outlines the differences between agile, traditional and hybrid and will help you to choose the right method for your project.<\/p>\n<p>Please fill in the form.<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Required Fields\u00a0 |\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/en\/data-protection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Data Protection<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"cookieconsent-optout-marketing\">This form is blocked by your cookie settings to our website. Please <a>click here<\/a> and select at least the marketing cookies. Then this form will be visible. Thanks a lot.<\/div>\n\n                \t<!-- ENGLISCH Wichtig: nur den Code in download-asset \u00e4ndern - definiert Download -->\r\n<script type='text\/x-ccm-loader' data-ccm-loader-src=\"https:\/\/js-eu1.hsforms.net\/forms\/embed\/developer\/146642994.js\" defer><\/script>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hs-form-html\"\r\n     data-download-asset=\"CU5E\"\r\n     data-region=\"eu1\"\r\n     data-form-id=\"ed0008c7-47d5-4c2e-ad2f-000bd95b74c5\"\r\n     data-portal-id=\"146642994\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n<script>\r\n(() => {\r\n  const FORM_ID = 'ed0008c7-47d5-4c2e-ad2f-000bd95b74c5';\r\n  const FIELD   = '0-1\/download_asset';\r\n  const roots   = new Set();\r\n  const formsByRoot = new WeakMap();\r\n\r\n  const setViaApi = (root) => {\r\n    const code = root.dataset.downloadAsset || '';\r\n    const form = formsByRoot.get(root);\r\n    if (!code || !form) return;\r\n    form.setFieldValue(FIELD, code);\r\n  };\r\n\r\n  window.addEventListener('hs-form-event:on-ready', (event) => {\r\n    if (!window.HubSpotFormsV4) return;\r\n    const form = HubSpotFormsV4.getFormFromEvent(event);\r\n    if (!form || form.getFormId() !== FORM_ID) return;\r\n\r\n    const root = [...roots].find(r => r.contains(event.target));\r\n    if (!root) return;\r\n\r\n    formsByRoot.set(root, form);\r\n    setViaApi(root);\r\n  });\r\n\r\n  window.addEventListener('message', (event) => {\r\n    const d = event.data;\r\n    if (!d || d.type !== 'hsFormCallback' || d.eventName !== 'onFormSubmit') return;\r\n    if (d.id !== FORM_ID) return;\r\n\r\n    roots.forEach(setViaApi);\r\n  });\r\n\r\n  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {\r\n    document.querySelectorAll('.hs-form-html[data-download-asset][data-form-id=\"' + FORM_ID + '\"]')\r\n      .forEach(r => roots.add(r));\r\n  });\r\n})();\r\n<\/script>\n                    <style>\/* Kompaktere Darstellung f\u00fcr HubSpot Formulare *\/\n[data-hsfc-id=\"Renderer\"] .hsfc-Step .hsfc-Step__Content { padding: 0 20px 20px !important; }\n[data-hsfc-id=Renderer] .hsfc-TextField>*:not(:last-child) { margin-bottom:4px !important; }\n[data-hsfc-id=\"Renderer\"] .hsfc-Row { gap: 20px !important; margin-bottom: 12px !important; }\n[data-hsfc-id=\"Renderer\"] .hsfc-NavigationRow { margin-top: 6px !important; }\n[data-hsfc-id=\"Renderer\"] .hsfc-TextInput { padding: 8px !important; }<\/style>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div><h2 id=\"Kapitel2\"><strong>Which Scenarios Are Best Suited to Hybrid Project Management?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Many organizations function in an environment in which traditional processes have evolved over time and compliance is required with broad obligations and required standards. For projects, this means that there is a <strong>focus on choosing methods that clearly define the plans and project goals<\/strong> and <strong>require that everything is documented<\/strong>. Or methods are prescribed by an external source, such as a regulatory authority.<\/p>\n\n    <p class=\"datamintsbanner\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/en\/project-management-newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"datamintsbanner__link\" title=\"Project Management Newsletter TPG PMO Resource Management Agile PM Project Projects Projectmanager Projectmanagementoffice\" style=\"display: block;\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/08\/TPG_Banner-Blog_1400_Newsletter_EN.jpg\" class=\"datamintsbanner__image\" style=\"display: block; max-width: 100%\">\n        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n    \n<p>However, times are changing. As software continues to play an increasingly important role in hardware products, agile methods \u2012 with their iterative processes and shifting objectives from sprint to sprint \u2012 have become increasingly popular.<\/p>\n<p>Combining traditional methods for some of the subprojects with elements of the agile methodology (such as Scrum) lets organizations take advantage of the best of both worlds to find the solutions best suited to their individual needs. This can enhance the project\u2019s benefits by, for example, achieving better results, reaching the goals faster, or minimizing expenses.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Note:<\/strong> The PMI study<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pmi.org\/-\/media\/pmi\/documents\/public\/pdf\/learning\/thought-leadership\/pulse\/drive-project-agility.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> \u201cThe Drivers of Agility\u201d<\/a> found that <strong>companies operating with a high degree of agility bring significantly more projects to a successful conclusion<\/strong> than those that do not. Of the companies exhibiting a high degree of agility, 68% used agile methods, 71% predictive, and 72% used a hybrid methodology. Among the companies exhibiting a low degree of agility, only 41% used agile methods, 45% predictive, and 51% hybrid methods.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel3\"><strong>Roles and Processes in the Traditional Project Lifecycle<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Project sponsors<\/li>\n<li>A project manager<\/li>\n<li>Several team leaders<\/li>\n<li>Team members<\/li>\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/why-a-pmo-is-important\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Project Management Office<\/a> (PMO)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One or more project sponsors define the overall goal. The objectives are then to narrow these goals down to actual targets, with the expectation that these will be met. It is important to determine <strong>what skill sets are needed<\/strong> <strong>and when<\/strong> and then find out when these will be available.<\/p>\n<p>The project is then prioritized and considered when resources are allocated. Team members are different for each project, as each member is chosen based on the skill sets needed for that particular project. The team leaders from the various departments need to see what resources they need to handle their daily operations to find out what resources can be made available to the project.<\/p>\n<p>As the project progresses, some deadlines may need to be modified and other elements changed, but the focus should always be on ensuring that the specified goals are met by the given deadline. Resources can be withdrawn from lower-priority projects and reassigned to top-priority projects so that team members devote most of their energy to those projects having the highest priority.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5843\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5843\" style=\"width: 1187px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/1_Traditional_project_lifecycle.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5843 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/1_Traditional_project_lifecycle.png\" alt=\"Hybrid project managemeng: Traditional project lifecycle\" width=\"1187\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/1_Traditional_project_lifecycle.png 1187w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/1_Traditional_project_lifecycle-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/1_Traditional_project_lifecycle-1024x431.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1187px) 100vw, 1187px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5843\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Traditional project lifecycle: various reports during the project\u2019s lifecycle and the assigned roles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It is important to keep an<strong> overview of all the current and new projects<\/strong> and their <strong>resource utilization<\/strong>. In addition, close coordination is required to optimize resource utilization with regard to the latest requirements and circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Any <strong>changes to the project<\/strong> are carefully tracked and, together with the sponsors and \/ or end customer, evaluated with regard to added value and additional cost as compared to the original specifications. <strong>Status reports<\/strong> are prepared to show progress on the delivery of existing orders. Detailed schedules are created in the form of Gantt charts and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/milestone-trend-analysis-ms-project\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">milestone trend analyses<\/a>. Risk analyses, with recommendations for avoiding these risks or minimizing their effects, may also be included.<\/p>\n\n    <p class=\"datamintsbanner\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/en\/project-management-tools\/milestone-trend-analysis-ms-project\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"datamintsbanner__link\" title=\"TPG MTA Client (Free Download Development Milestone Trend Analysis TPG MTA Client standalone product. MicrosoftProject free download\" style=\"display: block;\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/08\/TPG_Banner-Blog_1400_MTA_EN.jpg\" class=\"datamintsbanner__image\" style=\"display: block; max-width: 100%\">\n        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n    \n<p>The final result is generally some form of acceptance <strong>document that compares the delivered result with the original order<\/strong>. If there are deficiencies, these will be listed in the document and subsequently corrected. Sometimes these deficiencies are minor and can be accepted, but sometimes 100% compliance with the original specifications is required because, for example, the deliverable is a bridge that must stand or a crash test that must be withstood.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, there is a <strong>final meeting involving the team members, project managers and sponsors<\/strong> to discuss and document the lessons learned so that future endeavors may benefit.<\/p>\n<p>This is a good time to ask yourself what can be done better the next time. Achieving goals and allocating the required resources is completely normal and necessary, right? Yes, if the goals are absolutely clear and these are the right measures for achieving those goals, then the traditional approach is the best one.<\/p>\n<p>However:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What if you are expected to deliver results that can be obtained in <strong>several ways<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>What should you do if <strong>new insights and technologies<\/strong> become available during the project?<\/li>\n<li>How can you integrate these into the existing project plans to deliver a better solution?<\/li>\n<li>Would it not be great if there was some way to get the sponsors, customers, and users to all agree to these changes without risking non-conformance with the specifications?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Sometimes it is just not possible to clearly define what the deliverable should be<\/strong> because those involved themselves do not know exactly what they want or need. Have you ever not realized you were hungry until the scent of food made you crave a particular dish? Suddenly, you knew exactly what you wanted.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Another interesting read:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/agile-project-management-methods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Agile project management, traditional or hybrid?<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel4\"><strong>By Contrast: Agile Work Methods<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Agile approaches are much more common today, especially at the product development stage in software development or other similar areas. This often applies to cloud solutions, which must provide uninterrupted service.<\/p>\n<p>Increasingly, the approach is used in other high-tech and complex environments as well. The traditional approaches described above are just not suitable in cases like this.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, it has become prevalent, as in agile approaches, for a <strong>fixed team<\/strong> to develop <strong>iterative versions of a product<\/strong> while the <strong>users are already using the product on a daily basis<\/strong>. After all, the users also want to see ongoing progress.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A team is often put together only once<\/strong> and then continues to live for and with this software, just as other teams do with their products. The teams are rarely ever reorganized.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5844\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5844\" style=\"width: 1188px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/2_Agile_organizations_with_a_fixed_team.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5844 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/2_Agile_organizations_with_a_fixed_team.png\" alt=\"Hybrid project management \u2013 Agile organization\" width=\"1188\" height=\"502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/2_Agile_organizations_with_a_fixed_team.png 1188w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/2_Agile_organizations_with_a_fixed_team-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/2_Agile_organizations_with_a_fixed_team-1024x433.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1188px) 100vw, 1188px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5844\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Agile organization with a fixed team per product<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Looking at the roles in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/agile-project-management-methods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">agile methods<\/a>\u00a0(such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scrum.org\/\">Scrum<\/a>), we can identify the following:<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Product Owner<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Makes all the decisions regarding the product<\/li>\n<li>Prioritizes and maintains the backlog<\/li>\n<li>Is constantly available<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Scrum Master<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Manages the process<\/li>\n<li>Removes impediments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When it comes to resource planning, the following applies: strategic and tactical planning is also necessary for agile teams. Staff is needed for ongoing projects, new staff must be trained, etc.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>You might also be interested in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/agile-it-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Agile IT Project Management at OEMs.<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Remember that no one is permanently available 100% of the time. Plan for absences due to vacations, etc. What is the best way to handle resource planning and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/capacity-planning-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">capacity planning<\/a>?<\/p>\n<span style='display:none;'>FALSE<\/span><h2 id=\"Kapitel5\"><strong>Resource and Capacity Planning in Agile Projects<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Agile methods offer an advantage in resource planning: their fixed product and project teams, as well as the fixed cadence, make <strong>overall planning and the shifting of staff between projects<\/strong> much easier.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Take particular care to find a shared rhythm across projects and thus achieve harmonization. This makes it much easier for staff to shift from one project to another.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Agile teams are mostly <strong>self-organized<\/strong> and have the experience necessary to estimate the effort involved. This starts with a rough estimate that becomes more detailed in the course of the project. The teams report when something has been completed and give feedback in reviews and retrospectives.<\/p>\n<p>Together with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/product-owner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">product owner<\/a>, they gather <strong>stakeholder feedback<\/strong> in review meetings.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/kick-off-workshop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kick-off meetings<\/a> are no longer required in agile environments.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/resource-planning-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Project Resource Management. <\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Regular <strong>sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives<\/strong>, on the other hand, are <strong>mandatory<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the development team meets daily to discuss progress with regard to the Sprint Goal.<\/p>\n<p>The only remaining targets can be found in the <strong>Product Backlog<\/strong> or the <strong>Sprint Backlog<\/strong> as a subset for each sprint. If something is not documented in the backlog, it will not be done.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Communication<\/strong> with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/lessons-learned-im-projektmanagement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stakeholders<\/a> is not only through the reviews but also via <strong>public boards<\/strong> with Sprint or product burn down charts. This is why the traditional reports with their schedules, costs, and status are superfluous at best.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, what may be missing is a meaningful multi-project overview.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5845\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5845\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/3_Lifecycle_differences.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5845\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/3_Lifecycle_differences.png\" alt=\"Lifecycle differences between traditional and agile project planning\" width=\"600\" height=\"284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/3_Lifecycle_differences.png 1129w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/3_Lifecycle_differences-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/3_Lifecycle_differences-1024x484.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5845\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lifecycle differences between traditional and agile project planning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel6\"><strong>Hybrid Project Management:<\/strong> <strong>Optimally Combining the Two Methods<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>How can you combine these two different worlds?<\/p>\n<p>There are many approaches to introducing hybrid methods:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Concurrent Use of Traditional and Agile Methods:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Some business units always use traditional methods (e.g. consulting). Others always use agile methods (e.g. software development).<\/li>\n<li>Some projects use a traditional approach, others an agile one.<\/li>\n<li>Some parts of a project are implemented in a traditional way, other parts using agile methods.<\/li>\n<li>High-level planning employs a traditional approach, detailed planning an agile one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> Combining Traditional and Agile Methods in a Single Project:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>In traditional projects:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Closer coordination with users and more frequent, implementable intermediate results<\/li>\n<li>Regular meetings to discuss progress (not necessarily daily \u2013 once a week is a good start)<\/li>\n<li>Retrospectives (Lessons Learned) after each status update meeting, not just at the end<\/li>\n<li>There is a fixed team for the entire duration of development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>In agile projects:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Scrum Masters also serve as project managers in the traditional sense<\/li>\n<li>A Backlog is created for each project phase rather than as a specification for the overall product<\/li>\n<li>Project planning is synchronized with the sprint lengths<\/li>\n<li>Projects are planned using phases and milestones \u2013 at a higher level than the sprints and in addition to them<\/li>\n<li>There are status reports and milestone trend analyses for management and for the stakeholders<\/li>\n<li>(By the way, many agilists are unhappy with the latter two examples, as they can water down the basic agile principles).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>A general note:<\/strong>\u00a0Are the customer\u2019s requirements uncertain and unclear? Is the approach to a solution for the project still unclear and new? Agile methods are particularly well-suited in this case, as they were developed for exactly this type of situation.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Look at the first option in the above list. Having some business units use traditional approaches while others use agile ones is probably one of the most seamless and common implementations of hybrid project management. This usually ensures high process stability.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel7\"><strong>Hybrid Project Management:<\/strong> <strong>Example<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For customer consulting projects, you always use traditional methods whereas the endeavors focusing solely on product development follow agile principles. What to bear in mind: customer wishes have to be aligned between the business units.<\/p>\n<p>This means that <strong>the sales department must have a say in the release planning<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5861\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5861\" style=\"width: 625px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/4_Hybrid_handling-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5861\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/4_Hybrid_handling-1.png\" alt=\"Hybrid handling of projects with customer consulting and associated product development\" width=\"625\" height=\"306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/4_Hybrid_handling-1.png 1770w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/4_Hybrid_handling-1-300x147.png 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/4_Hybrid_handling-1-1024x501.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/4_Hybrid_handling-1-1536x752.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5861\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hybrid handling of projects with customer consulting and associated product development<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel8\"><strong>Traditional and Agile Methods within a Company: Using Both Methods<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Please note: Frequent changes between traditional and agile approaches from one project to the next pose a risk to the process stability.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5847\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5847\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/5_Frequent_changes_between_traditional_and_agile.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5847\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/5_Frequent_changes_between_traditional_and_agile.png\" alt=\"Hybrid project management \u2013 Frequent changes between traditional and agile approaches can have a negative impact on process stability\" width=\"600\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/5_Frequent_changes_between_traditional_and_agile.png 1319w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/5_Frequent_changes_between_traditional_and_agile-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/5_Frequent_changes_between_traditional_and_agile-1024x566.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5847\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Frequent changes between traditional and agile approaches can have a negative impact on process stability<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Therefore, another option is to combine methods in a meaningful way \u2013 rather than changing between methods in projects. To give you an example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Traditional concept, specification and implementation for the hardware<\/li>\n<li>Agile software development<\/li>\n<li>Traditional acceptance test<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>or:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Agile concept and specification<\/li>\n<li>Traditional implementation and acceptance test<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>or:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Traditional methods for everything up to the integration<\/li>\n<li>Agile integration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our tip:<\/strong>\u00a0If you use hybrid approaches within a single project, follow this proven approach: use agile methods for unclear parts of the project while using traditional methods for the clearer parts.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel9\"><strong>Combining Both Methods within a Single Project: U<\/strong><strong>sing <\/strong><strong>Traditional Methodology for Hogh-Level Planning and Agile Methodology for Detailed Planning<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Another approach has been proven successful for using hybrid methods in the same project:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use <strong>traditional methods <\/strong>for <strong>high-level<\/strong> planning as a kind of superstructure.<\/li>\n<li>Add an <strong>iterative element<\/strong> afterward using <strong>agile work methods<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This approach lets you continue to plan milestones and status meetings. While at the same time benefiting from the advantages of agile work methods.<\/p>\n<p>Making the <strong>meeting frequency<\/strong> rhythmic also will <strong>minimize<\/strong> <strong>friction<\/strong> and the general coordination effort \u2013 which ultimately <strong>increases productivity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5848\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5848\" style=\"width: 1512px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/6_Synchronization_makes_it_easier.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5848 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/6_Synchronization_makes_it_easier.png\" alt=\"Hybrid Project Management \u2013 Synchronization makes it easier to combine traditional and agile methods\" width=\"1512\" height=\"686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/6_Synchronization_makes_it_easier.png 1512w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/6_Synchronization_makes_it_easier-300x136.png 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/6_Synchronization_makes_it_easier-1024x465.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1512px) 100vw, 1512px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5848\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Synchronization makes it easier to combine traditional and agile methods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A <strong>survey on hybrid PM<\/strong> conducted during one of our webinars held in April 2018 involving 256 respondents (multiple answers possible) revealed that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>11% of the participants carried out their projects according to the defined methods of that business unit<\/li>\n<li>41% decided the method project by project<\/li>\n<li>40% chose the method based on the project situation<\/li>\n<li>41% did their high-level planning with traditional methods and used agile ones for their detailed planning<\/li>\n<li>18% were still unsure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/7_Poll_results_combination_of_methods.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5849 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/7_Poll_results_combination_of_methods.png\" alt=\"Poll result regarding hybrid project management\" width=\"1369\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/7_Poll_results_combination_of_methods.png 1369w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/7_Poll_results_combination_of_methods-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/02\/7_Poll_results_combination_of_methods-1024x539.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1369px) 100vw, 1369px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Separate the methods clearly, depending on the business unit. This will provide the highest process reliability. It is usually a good way to get started.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel10\"><strong>Agile, Traditional or Hybrid Approaches in Multi-Project Management?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/optimum-multi-project-management-environment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Multi-project management<\/a> will always require an overview of the status, necessary decisions, and delivery dates.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Status<\/li>\n<li>Required decisions<\/li>\n<li>Delivery deadlines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Problems concerning the project status need to be quickly and clearly discernible (e.g. with the aid of a red traffic light symbol).<\/p>\n<p>This is another difference. In typical (multi-) project environments, traditional methods will always be necessary.\u00a0In the course of product development for \u201csmall-scale projects\u201d from version to version, it is a little different. They can be planned with agile methods without any problems.<\/p>\n<p>As <strong>agile environments do not provide methods for multi-project management<\/strong>, further questions are unnecessary.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel11\"><strong>Conclusion and Recommendations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This article has introduced you to ways in which hybrid project management \u2013 <strong>a mix of agile and traditional approaches<\/strong> \u2013 can be applied in practice.<\/p>\n<p>You have learned that there are many ways to apply hybrid methods. For example, you <strong>can use traditional and agile approaches concurrently<\/strong> in different business units or combined <strong>within an individual project<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>There are situations in which traditional methods continue to make sense \u2013 despite growing agility.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Above all, we recommend that you introduce different suitable methods for the different areas of your organization.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Moreover, it is essential that you closely <strong>involve all the relevant departments<\/strong> (such as sales) right from the beginning.<\/p>\n<p>The best strategy is to introduce the methods <strong>step by step<\/strong> and to find a good <strong>team rhythm<\/strong> for the project.<\/p>\n<p>Another important point: <strong>special<\/strong> <strong>situations<\/strong> or environments often require a customized combination of methods. It is always better to find a <strong>tailored solution<\/strong> for every individual project (as in our examples above) than to impose an approach from an external perspective.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our final tips<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Get to know the individually adaptable \u201cPPM Paradise\u201d \u2013 the optimal environment for your enterprise-wide project, program, portfolio and resource management. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/data\/Downloads_eBooks\/TPG_PPM_Paradise_eBook_EN_-_TPG_TheProjectGroup.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the eBook now<\/a> (just click, no form).<\/p>\n<p>And sign up for our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/en\/project-management-newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bi-weekly blog newsletter<\/a> to make sure you receive all our updates.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>What hybrid method do you use, and would you call it a successful one? We look forward to reading your comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"id695737dfb6009\" class=\"iframecontainer iframecontainer--hidden\">\n            <div class=\"iframecontainer__head\" style=\"background: #D60B52!important;\">\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__head__inner\" style=\"color:#ffffff;\" data-for=\"#id695737dfb6009\">\n                    <p><strong>Subscribe to TPG BlogInfo:<\/strong> Never miss new practice-oriented tips &amp; tricks<\/p>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__head__icon\" data-for=\"#id695737dfb6009\">\n                    <svg width=\"10px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"1092 550 10 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\n                        <polygon class=\"iframecontainer__head__icon__pfeil\"  data-for=\"#id695737dfb6009\" stroke=\"none\" fill=\"#ffffff\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" points=\"1093.875 550 1101.875 558 1093.875 566 1092 564.125 1098.125 558 1092 551.875\"><\/polygon>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"iframecontainer__iframe\" style=\"height: 520px;\">\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__iframe__inner\">\n                \t<p>Every other week: Receive practical tips in TPG blog posts written by recognized experts in project, portfolio, and resource management.<br \/>\n* Required Fields\u00a0 |\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/en\/data-protection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Data Protection<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"cookieconsent-optout-marketing\">This form is blocked by your cookie settings to our website. Please <a>click here<\/a> and select at least the marketing cookies. Then this form will be visible. Thanks a lot.<\/div>\n\n                    <iframe src=\"https:\/\/scnem.com\/art_resource.php?sid=hqvs9.qdei48\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 520px;\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div><div class=\"row cf\"><div class=\"column half\">\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Achim_Schmidt-Sibeth2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-5870 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Johann-1-150x150.png\" alt=\"Johann Strasser, The Project Group\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><strong>Johann Strasser<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>Managing Partner at TPG<\/em><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The certified engineer, has been a managing partner at TPG The Project Group since 2001. After many years as a development engineer in the automotive and energy sectors, Johann Strasser spent a decade as an independent trainer and consultant in the field of project management. During his tenure, he also served as project manager for software projects in the construction industry and provided scheduling and cost management support for large-scale construction projects. At TPG, he applies his expertise in product development and consulting services for international clients. His special focus is on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/pmo-project-management-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PMO<\/a>, project portfolios, hybrid project management, and resource management. For many years now, he has shared his knowledge through presentations, seminars, articles, and webinars.<\/p>\n<p>Read more about Johann Strasser on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/johann-strasser\/?originalSubdomain=de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xing.com\/profile\/Johann_Strasser4\/cv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XING.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"column half\">\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/AchimS-200x200-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10753 size-thumbnail alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/AchimS-200x200-2-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><strong>Achim Schmidt-Sibeth<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Senior Marketing Manager<\/em><\/p>\n<p>After earning his engineering degree in environmental technology, he gained many years of experience in project management through his work at an engineering office, an equipment manufacturer, and a multimedia agency. Achim Schmidt-Sibeth and his team have been responsible for marketing and communication at TPG The Project Group for many years now.<\/p>\n<p>Read more about Achim Schmidt-Sibeth on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/achim-schmidt-sibeth-3b89a417\/?originalSubdomain=de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.xing.com\/profile\/Achim_SchmidtSibeth\/cv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XING<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n    <p class=\"datamintsbanner\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3IFmguV\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"datamintsbanner__link\" title=\"Microsoft 365 Project Management TPG ProjectPowerPack: Best Practice Solution for Project & Portfolio Management Based on Microsoft 365 & Power Platform\" style=\"display: block;\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/csm_PPP_Blog_Banner2_EN_1300px_tiny_8e50efa17d.jpg\" class=\"datamintsbanner__image\" style=\"display: block; max-width: 100%\">\n        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n    \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Agile or traditional? If you are weighing the pros and cons of both project management methods, there is a good alternative. Work with both methods by using hybrid project management. This article explains the best scenarios for using this hybrid approach. An example is used to illustrate how hybrid project management methodology is put into<\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/hybrid-project-management\/\" title=\"Read More\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":5585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2292"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2292"}],"version-history":[{"count":56,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8197,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2292\/revisions\/8197"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}