Which Project Management Method is Best?

Erika Santiago over at Electronic Discovery Project Management has introduced a 3rd project management application to her audience.  Agile was created within the last decade and is starting to be applied in legal services, and specifically eDiscovery.  Here was my evaluation of the different methods:

I can tell you for sure that PMI is a grading and inefficient method. Six Sigma is based on process and efficient process. What bothers me is that it’s derivative of mechanistic management processes. In theory it sounds good, and perhaps for certain soft industries it could work, but at this juncture in the eDiscovery industry I don’t think it’s the best way to build a model for optimal success. Agile is intriguing because the legal world is moving towards transparent, cost-effective, and most importantly, progressive measures to solve the fundamental inefficiencies that are centered at the core of American legal services. It seems to get back to what sales and business was all about. Providing top service to the client. This can only be done through good people who know how to manage. Not the types that I see in my work that are purely employed to carry out orders. They are not thinkers. They are merely purveyors for a mediated and convoluted web of close-minded ego-nerds. Because law firms are ultimately businesses, and the trend of legal output is to become as efficient and high-quality as possible, they must compete with these trends to keep their business. And if you’re a partner, you better start to embrace a world of transparent operations and fixed fees.