Project management in the conventional sense requires relatively complete initial definition of outcomes and scope. However, Research and Development (R&D) projects around new product development in the automotive industry are characterized by complex, interrelated activities and large uncertainties about the solution path. Though conventional project management methodologies can be applied to many automotive R&D projects, some projects, especially those involving knowledge workers, involve uncertain scope and time-constrained environments. These projects call for an agile project management approach.

Many automotive organizations follow Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), which is a framework of procedures and techniques used to develop products. A few automotive companies have, however, customized and developed their own project management system. Of late, we have seen the emergence of a hybrid agile project management approach that combines traditional project management methods with newer methods.