Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme, Sixth Edition

Linear Project Management Life Cycle

The Linear PMLC model is the simplest and most intuitive of the five major models in the project management landscape. It assumes that you have as nearly perfect information about the project goal and solution as can reasonably be expected. The Linear PMLC model is based on that assumption and does not easily accommodate any deviations. Deviations such as scope change requests can cause major upheavals in the project schedule. Figure 10-1 provides a view at the Process Group level of the Linear PMLC model.

Figure 10-1: The Linear PMLC model

The first thing to note about this model is that each Process Group must be complete before the next Process Group can begin. After a Process Group is complete, there is no returning at some later point to revise work completed in any earlier Process Group. The Linear PMLC model is definitely not a learning model, which has been the major criticism about it. All too often, the project manager will jury-rig the Linear PMLC just to accommodate learning. This means changing the project plan, which just leads to further problems like having to reschedule resources and the domino effect that has on resources already scheduled for work on other projects. The result is the addition of non-value-added work.

The contemporary business world is one of constant change. The world isn't going to stand still just because ...