Determine appropriate project methodology/methods and practices
Determine appropriate project methodology/methods and practices
What you will learn
- Distinguish the predictive, adaptive, and hybrid approaches.
- Connect requirements clarity and their rate of change to choosing the most fitting approach.
- Recognize that hybrid is a legitimate choice, not a weak compromise.
- Identify the signals in a given scenario that favor one approach over another.
Choosing a project methodology isn't following a trend ("agile because it's modern") or blindly sticking with what the team is used to. The right decision starts with two questions: are requirements clear and stable, or vague and expected to change? And is scope divisible into incremental deliveries, or does it need one complete delivery?
Predictive vs. adaptive
| Predictive (Waterfall-like) | Adaptive (Agile) | |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements clarity | Clear and stable from the start | Vague or expected to change frequently |
| Delivery pattern | Usually one complete delivery at project end | Frequent incremental deliveries (sprints) |
| Change | Managed through a strict formal control process | Expected and welcomed between sprints |
What matters on the exam
- A scenario with clear requirements and a legally regulated scope (like a construction project with fixed specs) usually leans predictive, regardless of agile's "modernity".
- Hybrid isn't "failing to choose" — it's a deliberate decision when one part of a project needs a different approach than another.
Agile isn't always the "newer = correct" answer
A common mistake: assuming the PMP exam always favors agile because it's the newer approach. The exam measures understanding of when each approach fits, not an absolute preference — a project with strict regulatory requirements and low change likelihood favors the predictive approach even though agile exists as an option.
Quick check
Answer in your head first, then reveal.
Which approach fits vague requirements expected to change frequently?Reveal the answer
Adaptive (Agile).
Is the hybrid approach a weak compromise?Reveal the answer
No, it's a deliberate decision when one part of the project needs a different approach than another.
Does the exam always favor agile?Reveal the answer
No, the choice depends on the project's characteristics, not an absolute preference.
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Sources
Used to verify the facts. The writing is original to Passuit.