What project management methodology do you most prefer; Waterfall, Agile, or Scrum? Explain your reasoning.
When answering this question, you will want to show that you have a solid understanding of the differences between Waterfall, Agile, and Scrum. The more directly you can explain these project management methodologies, the better your expertise will shine. Show your knowledge and demonstrate your preference, explaining your reason for why you prefer this particular methodology.
"My clear preference in methodologies, when it comes to project management would be Waterfall. Waterfall project management is commonly used in healthcare since healthcare executives prefer to see a sequence of tasks from beginning to end. I find Waterfall to be best for projects that are highly sequential by nature. Agile is great for breaking down project tasks that may not fit so stringently into Waterfall. Agile also opens the door to conversations around continual improvement. With Scrum being ideal for very small teams, I have not had much exposure to its use. It's a 'short sprint' approach, making it generally unsuitable for long-term or larger-scale projects in the healthcare industry. Could you share with me the project management methodology preferred within this organization?"
"While earning my degree in healthcare administration and project management, I learned a good deal about many methodologies, including Waterfall and Agile. I did not touch on Scrum too much because, although it is agile, it's also best for teams of 10 or less. I will develop a stronger preference as I build my experience as a healthcare PM; however, I believe Waterfall is more commonly used in the healthcare industry. Healthcare executives highly prefer it as it's most structured and systematic. I look forward to learning this organizations' preferred approach to running projects."
You must show a balance in your response by respecting all approaches, not speaking negatively about any other PM methodologies. If the hiring authority primarily uses the Scrum method and you speak poorly of that method, they might be put off by your response. It is best to describe your preference and reasoning while respecting all methodologies.
