XP (extreme programming) is modern era project management approach with main focus on human side of project management, i.e., managing stakeholders. XP corresponds to handle, manage, align and integrate stakeholders involved either directly or indirectly in the project. In this context, main strength of XP methodology is high end focus on stakeholders' management, fostering culture of teamwork in project environment, and ensuring optimum utilisation of human resources. On the other hand, weakness of XP approach is less emphasis on scheduling techniques and other aspects such as arranging necessary financial and personnel resources. The criticism states that project can't be accomplished solely with management and proper utilisation of human resources (Schwalbe, 2016).
The systems view of project management states that the approach moves in sequential manner with steps named planning, designing, coding, testing and listening. Under system view, there is identification of customers or users for developing team. All the possible stakeholders posing potential of affecting functionality of project are identified at initial stage. Secondly, system metaphor, standards, names, formats, etc are decided for grouping project members ensuring high level collaboration among them. The grouping pave path of documenting and coding tasks thereby allotting them to the personnel (Brewer & Dittman, 2013).
As compared to XP approach, traditional project management approach works in certain and less complex project environment. It is focusing on every possible aspect like scheduling, planning, forecasting, budgeting, etc. There is no sole focus and emphasis on stakeholders and their management. Traditional project management approach works on the principle of human interaction and deal with complexities of human collaboration like XM approach, but also pay equal attention on other aspects in terms of technical, financial and non-financial (Daley, 2014).
The project planning is needed in XP project management approach. This is so because project planning sets the foundation of project through defining project directions, format and guidelines. XP project management works on the principle of human interaction for cultivating climate of teamwork in project environment. For this, it is necessary on the part of project manager to decide direction and manner of proceeding, i.e., how to identify stakeholders, ascertaining their interests and expectations, etc. On the basis of this information, project manager establish guidelines and set formats for approaching stakeholders, manner of interacting with them, listing down their expectations and preparing guidelines for achieving the same (Brewer & Dittman, 2013).
If I have participated in information technology projects where XP was employed, I would feel highly delight. I would gain opportunity to understanding practical implication of XP approach. Till now, I have studied theoretical concepts of XP and participation in information technology project would allow me to understand how the XP approach is implemented in actual terms. Although in initial phase, I would have face difficulty in understanding implementation of XP approach, yet later on would develop acquaintance with it (Gao & Rusu, 2015).