Mapping Agile Practices to Project Management Challenges

Agile project management (APM) is praised to execute projects faster and to develop software with higher customer satisfaction. Traditional project management (TPM) methods consist of step-by-step, detailed process groups with its formal project plans, well documented customer requirements, and detailed product designs. When dealing with changes, it often put Project Management Triangle (Cost, Schedule, and scope) in dilemma, how is APM credited to use its four major values, interacting with skilled individuals, delivering working software products, establishing close interaction with customers, and adopting changes to overcome the challenge? The purposes of this study were to examine whether the use of APM practices helps alleviate project management challenges better than TPM practices and to provide an in-depth understanding of the relationships between APM practices and their effects on common project management challenges. The study is based on qualitative research method by interviewing software project management professionals who shared their real life experiences. The results were organized and utilized to help complete the mapping APM practices to those challenges.