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Hybrid Project Management is the method of combining planning strategies as of the Traditional Project management environment with the flexible approach of Agile Methodology and presents you with the best of both worlds. In simple words, you put two different strategies or things together in the Hybrid world and get some new and viable results. It is a creative process as the project manager creates something distinctive and valuable without any cut and dried rules.

It allows updating the project management methods and promises improvement in product delivery and time invested in the market when compared with other methods. Even the results in Hybrid Approach are much more accurate and valuable.

In the world of Hybrid Project Management, you will notice many types of hybrid projects, and 3 out of them are:

• Frankenstein: Frankenstein is the approach where the organization declares to opt for “Agile” Methodology while maintaining many other old company practices and designing a Predesigned plan.
• The Cross Breed: Cross Breed follows a similar methodology as Frankenstein and follows the mix of practices; however, the only difference here is that all the practices used together perfectly fit each other and are part of the thoughtful and integrative decision.
• The Combo:Combo Approach is followed by large projects with critical and stable elements and offers benefits for different BAs. The timing and level of the requirements under this approach depend on Agile or Plan-driven components, whichever the organization follows.

These types of Hybrid approaches or projects are applied by the organizations for getting improved results in each Software project.

In the 19th century, the requirement of the more pronounced structure in the world of management suddenly increased, which gave birth to the modern-day project management methodology. Although there were some defined management structures in every company, the modern project management processes have made the company's work more refined.

Henry Gantt was titled as the father of modern project management in 1917 as he created a scheduling diagram with the help of visual timelines of plotting tasks and linked them with each department required to complete it. After that, it was developed and evaluated by many people.

With Globalization and increased speed-to-market needs of products and services, the project's complexity and management difficulties increased even more. Every company's team size was growing, and some better techniques, like AI and Machine Learning, were introduced in the Industry. This gave birth to Hybrid Project Management, where the integrated project methodologies are combined to get better results. It has made the world of Project Management more adaptive and agile.

The entire valuation of Hybrid Project Management depends on the plans and goals of the specific project. When the software plays a vital role in all the hardware projects because of updates in the industry, following the agile methods has become very common. It lets the companies take advantage of both the Software and Hardware world and enhance their results. However, to make this management methodology successful, the involvement of relevant departments throughout the process is required. The best rhythm of the team in the entire project can also help in getting intergraded results.

As hybrid Project Management is about combining two approaches with each other, the valuation will also depend on which one out of Agile and Traditional the company is choosing. Every environment and project is different from each other and has a unique situation, and that’s why the customized combination of approaches may require each time. So it’s always better to tailor the solution and then impose an approach. It will define its valuation.

Hybrid Project Management has become quite popular in the past few years because of its agile and customizable nature. The companies can easily modify the approaches and get more integrated and positive results for each project. However, with the agile benefits and acceptance in the industry, it has surrounded with the expense of waterfall. Agile and Waterfall are two different approaches to Hybrid Project Management, and both have their strength and weakness. But understanding and using them in the right way can solve the problem.

If Hybrid Project Management has so much relevance and value, why are the companies not accepting it? The reason behind it is a lack of awareness of techniques involved in the Hybrid Environment. Getting the same knowledge will help select the most appropriate approach and pick the best type and level of assistance. Nevertheless, it is still predicted that administrators will be learning this approach and will be used a lot in the future because of the increasing complexity of the projects.

Hybrid Project Management is one of the most flexible methods of managing projects, and when it is combined with Agile, it can offer even better results.

For the large team, Agile alone can be impractical as it doesn’t have a structure required to fulfil the long-term business goals. So here, the Hybrid Project Management blend the Agile approach with a Waterfall approach, which is more stiff and traditional, and eliminates its weakness. Even as per the definition, this project management is the combination of Agile and Traditional project management approaches to offer a custom approach and better results.

Even as per a study conducted by PMI in 2019 on the companies that are following the Agile Project Management approach, 60% of them combine the same with Hybrid Project Management to get better results. So being a company or individual, you can also combine these two project management and get better results.

Hybrid Project Management works appropriately for all kind of projects and fits in every team structure. And when the Agile and Waterfall, two approaches in Hybrid World, are combined together, they become even more adaptive for your project. It makes the work of the team more efficient and measurable and offers better outcomes.

A hybrid working environment adapts itself as per the project. Although because of no fixed and defined deliveries under it many times, the cost and resources can’t be predicted or decided at the starting of the project; But in this situation, if you will apply Agile to uncertain aspects and waterfall to fixed deliverable, you can easily make your flexible project successful. So customizing your approach in each project or following the hybrid project management can actually offer better results.

Most of the companies that notice the benefits of Agile but wouldn’t able to get desired results with fully Agile Approach integration are opting for Hybrid Project Management. Many manufacturers, small businesses, marketing agencies, and other companies that can go with flexibility come under this category. Recently, many Software Developers are getting attracted to the Hybrid Style.

Some of the companies that were earlier following the Waterfall Approach but looking for flexibility in their way of working are also getting attracted towards Hybrid Project Management. Here, the Waterfall approach, which is more structured and traditional, is combined with agile flexibility.

There is no isolated case, so any company can adopt it. Also, it offers better results for all types of teams with flexibility and structure. Hybrid Project Management can be an excellent choice for anyone who is interested in mixing project management methodologies and want to decrease weaknesses in their working.

Every Project conducted in the industry is different, and changing the project management approach each time can help fulfilling its goal. Hybrid Project Management, being different for each team, can help here. There are a few ways of mixing the agile methodology from that a team can choose and customize their approach:

• Mix Agile and Waterfall
• Using Agile in some phases and Waterfall in others.
• Using a Hybrid Approach with balanced elements of Agile and Waterfall.

Agile is a lot more flexible, while Waterfall is a lot more rigid, so looking for a perfect combination and creating your hybrid project management approach from the beginning can solve a lot of problems. Shifting the Approach after the project gets started may create some delays. So, address your project, understand its requirements, and then choose the right approach for your team.

To make your Hybrid Project Management successful, build a hybrid strategy. Here is a procedure that you can follow:

• Set the goal or decide the project management problems that are required to be solved.
• Select the most important hybrid elements out of all define them clearly.
• Train the team as per the project’s requirements as it will make your team more confident, and they will build trust towards you.
• After your foundation is built and you have a trained team to manage the project, involve hybrid components and follow them throughout the strategy.
• Once the hybrid project is completed, discuss with your team about what’s working and what’s not. It will help you understand the mistakes and not repeat them in new projects.

Adjust your Hybrid Strategy in each project and don’t get stiff. It will help you learn more and grow in the industry and manage your Hybrid Project Successfully.

Hybrid Project Management is a combination of Agile and Traditional Approaches used to manage a project; While Blended Project Management is a combination of different methods, it doesn’t matter Traditional or Modern, into one single approach. These certainly sound the same, and the difference is minimal when we talk about their definition; but when we implement them in our working, the results they both offer can be absolutely different.

Agile Approaches can easily be blended with the same kind of Approaches, but if you want to blend the same with traditional or non-Agile Approach, Hybrid Project Management will be required. So as per the project goal, any company can choose between the two. These will help in getting the most integrated results while decreasing the errors.

In Hybrid Project Management, the Project Manager is the in-charge of the whole project, and he looks after the entire work related to it. Here is listed some of his significant roles:

• Coordinating with different team members who are involved in the Hybrid Project.
• Making the team aware of Hybrid Project Management and its all aspects.
• Control and Monitor the entire working.
• Guide the team members and solve their problems.
• Establishing the Definition, goal, infrastructure, and contracts related to Project.
• Managing dependencies with other projects, working on different projects simultaneously, and investing most time in the project whose deadline is near.
• Understanding the mindset of the team members and defining whether they are interested in the project or not.
• Managing Project communications and focus on broadening stakeholder engagement.
• Monitoring closure and completion and getting it done on time.

Three major factors that have played a significant role in the popularity of Hybrid are:

• High Client Expectations: There is higher client expectation in today’s time. Even the personalization, easiness, and speed from Hybrid Project Management, has helped them find the desired results for both small and large projects.
• Competitive markets: To fit in today’s market, it is essential to anticipate competitive issues and influences and have a proactive plan depending on it. And Hybrid Project Management helps with the same and allowing staying ahead in the game.
• Uncertainty and Complexity: The uncertainty and complexity in the market is considerable, where the old project management methodology may not offer the desired results. And that’s why opting for Hybrid Project Management allows staying modern and solving the problem.

As Hybrid is the combination of Waterfall and Agile, it has the features of both and offers long focus and better end results.

A Hybrid Project Management offers better Outcomes by combining Agile and Waterfall approaches, which these two methodologies can’t offer individually. Both Agile and Waterfall Environment have their pros and cons, but when they are combined together, they start balancing each other in a positive way. Here, the projects are managed in the traditional Waterfall way, and the scope and requirements are defined in the beginning; however, the entire development and testing takes place in the agile environment and offers more flexibility and facilities. The pros of both the areas are brought together in order to decrease risks. The project manager can decide the approaches to use and customize them as per the business goal. Additionally, it doesn’t matter how large or small the project is, the hybrid project management makes the whole working as a Win-Win for the team and business owner.

There are many different types of Software designed for Hybrid Project Management; here listed some of them:

• Binfire: It is software designed for managing projects related to hybrid methodology. It says that their task manager fulfills the requirements of Kanban and Waterfall approaches, and the size of the project doesn’t make any difference here.
• Codebeamer ALM: Another software designed by Intland Software can support the processes of Agile and Waterfall processes.
• ProjectManager.com:It is another software that supports the processes of Agile and Waterfall and can quickly solve the problems of Hybrid Project Management.
• Onepoint Projects:This software handles and supports the hybrid methodology introduced by Atlassian. It easily handles Agile, JIRA, and formal projects and offers the single project portfolio and resource utilization database.
• Teodesk: It is one of the leading software offering the implementation of the hybrid methodology. It is flexible to use and is structured enough to solve the purpose.

To implement a Hybrid as Methodology, it is essential to have a complete project plan and follow the same step by step to maintain a rhythm. Also, focus on maintaining synchronization between the two environments, i.e., Agile and Waterfall, and mix them. Even the project manager should maintain the communication within the team and assign the dependencies. It allows everyone in the team to know about their work and maintain the best synchronization. Even the meeting required should also focus on the role of each project member.

Here are the components of Hybrid Project Management that one should keep in mind:

• Define a Project Completely using the Work Breakdown structure and other tools of project management.
• Segmentation: Use the tool to position each task and assigning them to its development stage.
• Collaboration: Updating all the team members about the project and the plan.

The best practices make the implementation quite simple, and the Project Manager picks and chooses the approaches to be used in the project.

• The Client and Project Managing Team can discuss about the project in the early stage of development and understand each other's mindsets.
• It becomes effortless to identify who will be handling which task and offer them appropriate support if needed.
• The Progress of the project can be marked easily.
• The approaches to be used in the project can be selected by the Project Manager every time a new project starts.
• It is both stiff and flexible at the same time and can adapt to the project needs.
• It is challenging to track deliverables and analyze whether the deadline will be met or not.
• Team conflicts can take place, which can result in wasting time and effort, and the team coordination is limited to handoff points.
• It is hard to focus on an individual approach between Agile and Waterfall after going for Hybrid Project Management.
• It is challenging to implement changes in the Methodology working process.

Whenever a Project Manager is handling any project, the risks are inherent. Although proper managing of Hybrid Project can add structure to the whole working and minimize most of the risks, any kind of uncertainties can still occur and led to significant failure in attaining the goal. Therefore, analyzing the potential risks in the beginning and finding the best solution can solve most of the problems.

Risk Factors related to Hybrid Project Management can be handled by following 4 steps:

1. Establish the Context
2. Identify and Analyze the Potential Risks Associated with the chosen Approach.
3. Evaluate the Risks and offer proper Assessment.
4. Avoid and Mitigate the Potential Risks.

Each project is associated with different types of risks. So make sure to discuss with the team and come out with potential factors and solutions.

If you have reached the end, we would like to take some time and say Congratulations. You are now aware of Hybrid Project Management, its type, history, importance, pros and cons, risk factors, and any other thing that can help you build a prominent hybrid project management strategy. You are at the right spot to dive into the details of this field and understand why it is better than other methodologies.

If you want to become a Hybrid Project Manager in a prominent organization or manage your own hybrid project, this guide can help you to a huge extent. Even if you are already using the Agile or Waterfall approach for project management and want to update it, the Hybrid Methodology can help you get better results by combining both.

Additionally, if you are new to the world of Hybrid Project Management, it is worth investing your time to find answers to these questions.

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