It is quite common for professionals in project management to use ‘method’ and ‘methodology’ interchangeably. Is this correct?
If not what are the differences?
It is common that some practitioners confuse the meaning of these two terms, method, and methodology and use them interchangeably.
In general, a method is “a particular procedure for accomplishing or approaching something”[1], whereas a methodology is “a system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity.”[2] In other words, a method is a specific way that is set or fixed, whereas a methodology is a wider term, “a system of methods”.
Further, a method is different from a framework since a method means there is a certain way of doing something; like systematic process, a step by step approach. Whereas a framework is a general guideline as defined earlier.
A common project management method may follow a project life cycle or a similar approach. For example, Waterfall is a method with a project life cycle consisting of a few phases in sequence. SDLC refers to a Software Development Life Cycle with its own phases. Some practitioners refer to ‘Agile’ as a method but it is an approach, more a framework, whereas scrum might offer a specific method for software development projects.
For example, managing a ‘small’ real estate development project can follow a certain tailored method. Whereas managing a large and complex real estate development project may follow another method. These two methods could have similar features but each is tailored to a different level of size and complexity.
It is important to mention that it is not common to hear, or read, about specific project management methods in the professional community. This is due to the fact that methods are often custom-built[3] for an organization; they are internal resources making them proprietary information.
[1] Oxford Online Dictionaries (http://oxforddictionaries.com/)
[2] Same reference
[3] Tailored is another common term.
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If not what are the differences?
It is common that some practitioners confuse the meaning of these two terms, method, and methodology and use them interchangeably.
In general, a method is “a particular procedure for accomplishing or approaching something”[1], whereas a methodology is “a system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity.”[2] In other words, a method is a specific way that is set or fixed, whereas a methodology is a wider term, “a system of methods”.
Further, a method is different from a framework since a method means there is a certain way of doing something; like systematic process, a step by step approach. Whereas a framework is a general guideline as defined earlier.
A common project management method may follow a project life cycle or a similar approach. For example, Waterfall is a method with a project life cycle consisting of a few phases in sequence. SDLC refers to a Software Development Life Cycle with its own phases. Some practitioners refer to ‘Agile’ as a method but it is an approach, more a framework, whereas scrum might offer a specific method for software development projects.
For example, managing a ‘small’ real estate development project can follow a certain tailored method. Whereas managing a large and complex real estate development project may follow another method. These two methods could have similar features but each is tailored to a different level of size and complexity.
It is important to mention that it is not common to hear, or read, about specific project management methods in the professional community. This is due to the fact that methods are often custom-built[3] for an organization; they are internal resources making them proprietary information.
[1] Oxford Online Dictionaries (http://oxforddictionaries.com/)
[2] Same reference
[3] Tailored is another common term.
Copied from : http://www.sukad.com/
