What is the official business definition of Agile vs. Traditional Project Management? The main difference between Agile and Traditional Project Management lies in how projects are structured and managed. Traditional Project Management (TPM) emphasizes detailed planning, rigid control and a highly structured, linear approach to project management. Agile Project Management (APM), on the other hand, is a more flexible, iterative approach that focuses on continuous improvement, collaboration and adaptive planning.
Agile Project Management utilizes short cycles of development with frequent iterative feedback and changes, while Traditional Project Management involves a more structured and formalized approach. In Agile, the process of planning and development is done in short “sprint” cycles, and the team works together to quickly review each cycle and make necessary adjustments. This allows for a much quicker development cycle and can help reduce costs and time.
Traditional Project Management involves more upfront planning, a longer overall timeline and a more rigid control of the project and