Being proactive is an important principle in project management. It means being able to collect and analyze relevant information before deciding on a course of action. By applying this principle, project managers avoid making mistakes in selecting how to manage projects.

 

There are many ways to manage projects. These ways can be broadly classified as being predictive and adaptive. Predictive ways are chosen when project managers can safely predict the process and outcome of a project as requirements are fixed. When it is not possible to do so, projects managers choose ways in which they can adapt to evolving requirements.

 

To select the right way, it is necessary to understand project needs before planning for the project. This is in accordance with the principle of seeking to understand before deciding on how to manage a project. The prevailing situation and needs the project aims to fulfill must be assessed before deciding on how the project is to be undertaken.

 

The situation considered includes the size and complexity of the project as well as the nature of the requirements, that could be either fixed or evolving. Once this has been ascertained, the project manager decides on whether to use a predictive approach or adaptive approach.

 

Predictive approach is used when unique requirements the project seeks to fulfill are fixed and validated. This makes it possible to define the processes required to achieve the desired delivery to fulfill the requirement. Lifecycles of the project using the predictive approach is defined in four main phases. These include the initiation phase followed by planning. Once planning is completed, the project undergoes an execution as well as monitoring phase.

 

Adaptive approach is used when the unique requirements evolve with time making it impossible to precisely define what exactly is needed and how many deliveries are needed. If the outcome required changes and there is a need to redesign many times, an iterative life cycle is required. If the number of deliveries required changes and there is a need to deliver many times, an incremental life cycle is required. If changes in both are needed, an agile life cycle is the agile life cycle. At times a combination of both the predictive as well as adaptive approach. In such instances an approach called a hybrid approach is used.

 

Given the challenges faced in meeting unique requirements, planning must be down systematically. It must start with planning for the big picture and gradually plan for details as more information is collected. This is called progressive elaboration. Since the level of details cannot be established all at once, planning cannot occur all at once, the detailed planning must occur in stages. As the project progresses, the details gradually emerge for the subsequent phase. This is referred to as rolling wave planning.

 

Through careful consideration of the situational project needs a better understanding of requirements emerge. Hence it becomes possible for the project manager to identify the appropriate methodology in line with the principle of seeking to understand and being proactive.