Radical Project Management

The Four Waves of Project Management

Project management has evolved through a number of stages or waves. Table 2.1 highlights the major differences between the waves of project management.

Table 2.1. The Four Waves of Project Management

First Wave—Initial	1950–1970
Project Justification	Projects were justified by experimentation and proof of technology.
Senior Management Role	Generally unaware of major project issues—IT were trusted as “scientists/experts.”
Business Expert Role	Little or no involvement in development process.
Management Focus	Focus on development effort only.
Team Structure	Single teams with dominant technical leader.
Planning Approach	Informal and verbal planning.
Project Dynamic	Generally unlimited time and budget.
Project Justification ...