EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF WATERFALL AND AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES – A CASE STUDY FROM MACAU’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Abstract

THE ADOPTION OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES IS A CRUCIAL DECISION FOR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES SINCE THE MANAGEMENT OF AREAS SUCH AS RISK, COST, AND COMMUNICATIONS IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF AN ENDEAVOR. NEVERTHELESS, DIFFERENT FRAMEWORKS BASED ON TRADITIONAL OR AGILE METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE WITH SEVERAL APPROACHES, WHICH MAY CREATE SEVERAL WAYS TO MANAGE PROJECTS. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS WORK IS TO INVESTIGATE THE ADEQUATE PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FROM A GENERAL PERSPECTIVE AND CONSIDER A CASE STUDY FROM MACAU. THE METHODOLOGY CONSIDERED SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS AND A SURVEY COMPARING INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL PROJECT MANAGERS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. THE INTERVIEWS INDICATE THAT MOST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS STILL FOLLOW EMPIRICAL METHODS WITH NO SPECIFIC METHODOLOGY BUT CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF TRADITIONAL WATERFALL APPROACHES. IN CONTRAST, ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY, MOST PROJECT MANAGERS AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS AGREE THAT THE PROJECT'S EFFICACY NEEDS TO INCREASE, NAMELY IN PLANNING, WASTE MINIMIZATION, COMMUNICATION INCREASE, AND FOCUS ON THE CLIENT'S FEEDBACK. IN ADDITION, THERE SEEMS TO BE A CLEAR INDICATION THAT AGILE METHODOLOGY COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN SEVERAL TYPES OF PROJECTS, INCLUDING HOSPITALITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. A HYBRID DEVELOPMENT APPROACH BASED ON THE WATERFALL AND AGILE METHODOLOGIES AS A TOOL FOR THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT AREA MAY PROVIDE A MORE SUITABLE METHODOLOGY FOR PROJECT MANAGERS TO FOLLOW.