Agile or Legal Aspects? How to Choose the Right Elective for Your PPM Programme
The Programme in Project Management is offered in Online, Weekender, and Midweek formats, each including an elective component that allows participants to choose between two modules based on their interests or professional needs.
- Legal Aspects for Project Managers, or
- Agile Project Management
The information below might help you to choose between these two modules.
The basics of project management we teach in the PPM are Traditional Project Management (also known as the Waterfall methodology), which applies to most projects across several industries, such as construction, mining, electrical and water utilities, defence, etc. In these cases, the product (deliverable or solution) of the project can be determined with relative certainty before project execution starts.
Agile Project Management, on the other hand, is a flexible and collaborative approach that applies to projects where the project’s product (deliverable or solution) is relatively uncertain. The uncertainty is accounted for through small steps repeated during project execution. The project team and customers learn more about the solution or end product as the project progresses.
Agile project management methods lead to improved responsiveness to change, faster delivery, and better team collaboration. Agile methods are therefore widely used in IT projects and other projects where the scope and deliverables are uncertain. Agile methods are sometimes also applicable during the early phases of traditional projects.
The Procurement and Contract Management module teaches you how to manage projects (or parts thereof) when the work is performed outside your organisation.The Legal Aspects alternative provides a deeper understanding of the legalities involved in project contracts. The Legal Aspects module also addresses aspects of the South African Labour Law. If you are involved in contractual matters, we recommend this alternative.
If you are involved in IT projects or any other type of project where the project’s product (deliverable or solution) is relatively uncertain, we strongly recommend the Agile alternative.
If you'd like to discuss your specific situation with the course leader, please email Corro Van Waveren, explaining the details of your work situation and your objectives regarding the PPM.
