A Multidisciplinary Project Management Approach

by Charles W. Butler, Gary L. Richardson

In this article, we describe a project management approach, Methodology Object Management (MOM), that is defined to fit the entire range of software development processes, from the traditional waterfall approach to agile development methods. MOM's basic tenets have been developed in concert with a large US organization that has several different development cultures but aspires to manage its overall development structure consistently, regardless of the development techniques used in the various business lines. With MOM, companies can implement simple, nimble methodology elements for agile projects in a manner understood by developers, customers, and upper management. We hope that this approach will establish greater understanding and acceptance of agile methods in environments that are unaccustomed -- or resistant -- to them.