What’s the Difference Between a Methodology and a Framework?
Blog: Good eLearning
At Good e-Learning, we spend a great deal of time talking about studying and becoming certified in different frameworks and methodologies.
While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are some distinct differences between them in relation to:
- What kind of guidance they provide
- How flexible or stringent they are
- How much control they offer managers
- Whether they can incorporate other methodologies, frameworks, and so on
You could even say that, at times, the line between them can be fairly blurred.
With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at the basic differences between methodologies and frameworks.
What is a methodology?
A ‘methodology’ is a set of principles, tools, and practices. They are prescriptive and may also have specific deliverables such as documents for planning or assessment.
While methodologies can be somewhat flexible, they will usually be fairly stringent in how they do things. Methodologies may not be as adaptive as frameworks, but they tend to offer a higher degree of control that can be better suited to large companies or projects that cannot tolerate risks.
What is a framework?
A ‘framework’ is still a way of doing things, but is more of a loose structure than a prescriptive to-do list. Frameworks are usually quite flexible and can even incorporate other approaches.
Frameworks tend to be more common than methodologies, as most organizations require a certain degree of flexibility and adaptability. This is particularly true in areas such as software development or managing small-scale projects.
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