Features

Customize your hybrid project management buffet – in one software!

Published by Corinna Günther November 7, 2024 Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

When you’re responsible for managing complex projects, you need software that adapts to your specific needs. Think of it as a ‘buffet’ that blends Agile and Waterfall methods, letting you pick exactly what works for each phase. OpenProject empowers you to create your ideal hybrid ‘plate’, managing projects from start to finish in one system. Discover in this article how OpenProject’s hybrid PM features support any project setup, with practical tips and examples included.

Agile and Waterfall features: Offer your employees the greatest flexibility

Finding software for hybrid project management can be tough — most tools lock you into either Agile or Waterfall. OpenProject is different, offering an extensive range of features along with high customization. Just like a buffet, you can pick exactly the tools you need for your specific project and task management. If you work with hybrid methods, OpenProject is perfectly suited for you and your organization.

Tip
What is hybrid project management? Hybrid PM combines elements of both Agile and Waterfall approaches, allowing teams to balance structure with flexibility. There are various ways to apply a hybrid approach: you might blend Agile sprints with Waterfall milestones, where structured planning is done up front, but iterative development happens in phases. Or, you may primarily follow a Waterfall methodology and bring in Agile practices occasionally for certain project stages. Learn more about the different levels of hybrid project management in this article: What is hybrid project management?

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect to learn if you continue reading:

Why OpenProject is the best software solution for hybrid approaches

When it comes to hybrid project management, OpenProject stands out from competitors like Jira, Microsoft Project, and Monday:

Jira is a strong Agile tool, especially suited for development teams, but it lacks the structured planning features needed for a true hybrid approach.

Microsoft Project is highly detailed and effective for Waterfall projects but can be rigid, making it difficult for teams needing Agile flexibility.

And while Monday.com offers customizable workflows, it may not support complex hybrid setups or integrate Agile and Waterfall features as seamlessly as OpenProject.

With OpenProject, teams benefit from a versatile platform that supports not only Agile and Waterfall but also a wide range of frameworks, from Scrum and Kanban to PRINCE2 and beyond. This flexibility makes it easy to tailor your project management approach to match your team’s specific needs, all within one single tool.

But enough theory for now, let’s dive into the specific features that make OpenProject so adaptable, beginning with those suited for traditional Waterfall management.

Waterfall project management features in OpenProject

Waterfall methods require structure and clear timelines. Software features suitable for Waterfall methodologies bring order, tracking and a strong sense of control to every stage – perfect for projects that require precision and steady progress. Here is a selection of OpenProject features suitable for Waterfall methodologies:

Project Lists and Portfolio: Tracks multiple projects in a structured way, perfect for Waterfall’s focus on clear, upfront planning.
Progress Reports: Generates detailed insights, aligning with Waterfall’s need to monitor against predefined phases.
Gantt Charts: Visualizes timelines with dependencies, ideal for the sequential, phase-based Waterfall approach.
Relations and Hierarchies: Organizes work packages in a hierarchy, supporting Waterfall’s clear chain of dependencies and roles.
Scheduling: Sets fixed start and end dates, keeping work aligned to the strict timelines central to Waterfall.
PDF Export and Work Plan Export: Creates nice PDF documents, a key part of Waterfall’s emphasis on formal reporting.
Budgeting and Cost Reports: Tracks your project’s budgets, supporting Waterfall’s goal to control costs in each stage.
Baseline Comparison: Compares current progress to initial plans, essential for tracking adherence in Waterfall.
File Management: Centralized document storage for clear project records, fitting Waterfall’s structured documentation. Is equally helpful when working with agile methods.
Time Tracking: Monitors time allocation, supporting Waterfall’s focus on resource planning per phase.

Agile project management features in OpenProject

Agile thrives on flexibility and rapid adjustments. Software features that are suitable for Agile make it easier to adjust, prioritize, and stay on track, enabling teams to deliver increments in short, focused iterations. Here is a selection of OpenProject features fit for Agile methods:

Boards (Basic, Status, Version, Assignee, Subprojects and Parent-Child): Tracks tasks visually and allows you flexible editing, core to Agile’s iterative workflows.
Backlogs: Prioritizes tasks dynamically, allowing Agile teams to adapt quickly to changes within each sprint.
Story Points: Estimates effort by complexity, helping Agile teams plan and track progress per sprint.
GitHub Integration and GitLab Integration: Links development updates with task progress, enhancing Agile’s need for rapid iterations.
Work Packages: Organizes work into different kind of tasks, bugs, phases etc, enabling Agile’s focus on incremental delivery.
Custom Actions and Workflows: Automates steps for iterative work, supporting Agile’s adaptability and responsiveness.
Roadmap and Product Timelines: Plans future releases, useful for Agile’s roadmap of iterative progress.
Date Alerts and Notifications: Keeps teams updated on task progress, important for Agile’s fast-paced adjustments.

3 types of hybrid project management

Hybrid project management combines Agile and Waterfall methods, so that teams can take advantage of the best of both approaches. Here’s three common types of hybrid PM that can, for example, be used in a scientific project:

Organizational hybrid: People working on a project may require structured Waterfall methods for phases such as planning, compliance and data analysis to ensure that each step meets regulatory and quality standards. Agile methods can be introduced in certain teams, for example for rapid prototyping or field research, where more iterative adjustments are beneficial.

Integrated hybrid: Agile and Waterfall methods can be combined within a project phase. In a scientific project for example, the data collection phase could follow a waterfall structure to ensure compliance, while agile sprints are used within the research team to refine and adapt experimental methods based on ongoing insights.

Sequential hybrid: Teams could also alternate between different methods – Begin the project with a Waterfall-based planning and resource allocation phase, then adopt Agile methodologies during execution, with sprints to iterate experiments or field tests. Finally, the project could transition back into a Waterfall structure for data analysis and reporting, where rigor and structure are critical.

Let’s deep dive into the example of an integrated hybrid project management and how you could implement it in OpenProject:

Example of an integrated hybrid project management with OpenProject

Imagine a scientific research team led by Dr. Miller, managing a grant-funded project on plant biodiversity. Due to strict reporting requirements of the funders, project manager Sarah needs a structured approach, but she also sees the value in adding flexibility to help the team adapt to challenges that arise in the field.

To meet these needs, Sarah uses OpenProject’s Gantt charts to plan and track the key project phases – design, data collection and analysis – and ensure that all steps are documented and meet compliance standards. This waterfall structure sets the project’s schedule, with key milestones for accountability and reporting.

During the dynamic research phase, however, Sarah introduces agile methods via Boards in OpenProject. By meeting weekly to review progress, the team can adapt when, for example, weather affects on-site data collection or new variables are identified. Using task boards, the team can reprioritize and adjust tasks as needed, enabling scientists to respond to real-world challenges without disrupting the overall project plan.

In addition, Sarah schedules regular retrospectives using OpenProject’s Meetings module. Every month, the team discusses findings and necessary adjustments to ensure continuous improvement. These meetings, documented in OpenProject, help align the project with both Agile and Waterfall methodologies, demonstrating continuous adaptation while meeting the structured requirements for funding reports.

This integrated hybrid approach with OpenProject allows the team to balance the rigor of scientific documentation with the flexibility of Agile methodologies, keeping the project both compliant and responsive.

Start now and enjoy your hybrid project management buffet with OpenProject!

This scientific project was, of course, just one example of the countless ways OpenProject can support your hybrid project management needs. You have the flexibility to design your own project approach thanks to a wide range of features and a high level of customizability in OpenProject.

Start a free trial now and explore the features offered by OpenProject – whether you need Gantt charts, task boards or meeting modules, you can select and combine the tools that best suit your individual project needs. Dive in and create a project experience that fits your team, your goals and your style: https://start.openproject.com/