Choosing the appropriate approach in project management is crucial, as effective project management impacts the quality of the results. When it comes to choosing the appropriate methodology for project management, there’s mostly a conflict between the two popular ones, agile and waterfall. Waterfall is the conservative and linear approach to managing the project, whereas agile is an iterative methodology that involves a cyclic or collaborative process. Here’s a detailed comparison between the two methodologies, which may help you decide which one to implement in your project, agile or waterfall.
Both the waterfall and agile project management methodologies are distinct but appropriate and have their pros and cons. Both methodologies are most popular project management, but each of them is suitable for different kinds of projects. The pros of one of the methodologies may outweigh the other depending upon the nature of the project.
It is important to select the most appropriate methodology according to your project and its needs. Let’s dive into the detailed explanation and comparison between the two methodologies for a better understanding to help you decide whether you should select waterfall vs agile for your next project.
Waterfall
How does the waterfall methodology work?
The waterfall procedure for project management involves a linear or step-by-step approach. This methodology focuses on completing each phase and then moving on to the next phase of the project. Just like water flows in a single direction from top to bottom in a waterfall, this method is unidirectional, as its name suggests, progressing from top to bottom step by step.
The waterfall approach is ideal for a project where the outcome is known from the beginning of the project. It works well when the timelines, deliverables, and expectations of each stage are well known, and there is a clear roadmap of the project structure before beginning the project. The prior planning of the project execution is crucial in the waterfall methodology as the changes or adaptations do not align with this procedure. This method is implemented in projects where the whole team is on the same page before the beginning of the project.
Pros of waterfall methodology
It is easy to manage as all the timelines, stages, and the roadmap from the start to the end of the project are well planned and structured before the beginning of the project.
It is simpler to track the progress and complete the project within the limited time and budget constraints because the timeline and budget are determined before the beginning of the project.
The waterfall methodology's straightforward and systematic method makes it easier for team members to comprehend the procedure and successfully finish one phase before going on to the next. By doing this, the quality of the project gets raised, and the likelihood of errors gets reduced.
The thorough documentation involved in waterfall methodology also ensures that all the members involved in a project that may be complex understand each phase and are on the same page.
The risks can be identified and resolved at the beginning of the project and can be prevented at the end of the project or from being critical.
The waterfall methodology is well suited for small projects in which requirements are clear from the beginning and adaptations are not needed.
Cons of waterfall methodology
The major drawback of the waterfall methodology is its inflexibility. It cannot be suitable for projects with unclear requirements that may need repetitive changes, as going back to the previous stage to make adaptations can increase the cost and prolong the delivery timeline.
Even though the timeline gets established before the start of the project, it might take longer than anticipated to finish because the waterfall methodology requires the successful completion of one phase before moving on to the next.
The likelihood of disagreements among stakeholders is increased because they might not see the final product until the execution, and there is a chance their original plans do not match the final product.
Agile
How does agile methodology work?
For software development projects that require modifications and adaptations in accordance with requirements and technological advancements over time, people found the waterfall methodology to be inflexible and ineffective. These shortcomings of the waterfall led to the development of the agile methodology, which is a flexible and iterative approach to software development.
Agile project management methodology enables projects to be adjusted as needed to meet evolving requirements. It allows the teams to work on the various project phases concurrently and breaks down larger projects into smaller iterations or pieces. By using an iterative approach, the team can test the product, involve stakeholders early on, and seek feedback from them instead of waiting until the project gets completed.
Pros of agile methodology
Agile methodology is ideal for projects with unclear or evolving requirements due to its flexible nature, which allows the project manager and his team to change the project direction anytime during the process.
Agile is a customer-centric approach that keeps the customers in the loop throughout the project and seeks their feedback, which can easily be incorporated into the process, ultimately resulting in high customer satisfaction.
Agile methodology allows a quicker time-to-market as the product gets delivered in short iterations and increments.
Risks in the project can be managed easily in the agile methodology as the risk can be identified and addressed earlier in the project through testing.
Cons of agile methodology
Agile methodology is not as straightforward as waterfall methodology. Due to its complexity, it can be difficult to manage, as there are extensive collaborations, multiple iterations, and a larger team working concurrently in various phases of the project. The complexity of agile makes it difficult to keep all the people involved in the project on the same page.
Though flexibility is the major advantage of agile methodology, it can be problematic in case of constraint timelines and budgets, as the continuous changes make them unpredictable, especially at the beginning of the project.
Agile methodology doesn't rely on documentation like waterfall methodology does. Although less work is involved, it may be challenging to keep stakeholders in line with the project's functionality and design to avoid discrepancies. For compliance and regulations, documentation is also necessary.
Client involvement throughout the project can be beneficial for their satisfaction and quality of work, but it can be problematic if the client is unavailable for timely feedback, which could cause the project to take much longer than expected.
Conclusion
Agile and waterfall are the commonly used project management methodologies. Selecting the approach that best fits the nature of your project is crucial to achieving successful outcomes. If the project is smaller, with pre-planned requirements, and doesn’t need adaptations through the process, then waterfall may be the right choice. However, the agile methodology is well suited for larger projects with unclear requirements that might change frequently during the project.
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