Agile and Waterfall methodologies

Mudassir IqbalJanuary 30, 2024PMP Concepts1 comment

Agile and Waterfall Methodologies have been part of the Project Management world for quite some time; let’s quickly review them;

Agile Methodology:
Agile is an iterative and incremental approach to project management that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer feedback. It involves breaking down the project into small, manageable tasks called user stories, which are prioritized and completed in short timeframes known as sprints. The focus is on delivering a working product at the end of each iteration

Waterfall Methodology:
The waterfall is a traditional linear approach to project management where tasks are completed sequentially, flowing steadily downwards like a waterfall. It involves distinct phases such as requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance, with each phase being fully completed before the next one begins. Changes to the project scope are difficult to implement once the project has moved to the next phase. The Waterfall methodology is best suited for projects where the requirements are well-defined and unlikely to change

Predictive, Adaptive and Hybrid Approaches

Comparison between Waterfall and Agle Methodology

	Waterfall Methodolgy	Agile Methodology
Flexibility	Less flexible, as changes are difficult to implement once a phase has been completed.	Highly flexible, allowing for frequent changes and adjustments throughout the project lifecycle
Delivery Time	Longer delivery time as the entire project is planned and executed in a linear fashion, often taking several months or years	Quick delivery of working increments through regular iterations, typically ranging from one to four weeks
Feedback and Adaptation	Limited feedback and adaptation once the project requirements are defined and locked in at the beginning	Emphasizes continuous feedback and adaptation through regular sprint reviews and retrospectives.
Risk Management	Risks are typically identified and addressed during the planning phase, with less emphasis on ongoing risk management during execution.	Risks are identified and addressed iteratively throughout the project lifecycle, with a focus on early and frequent delivery of value

Examples:

Agile: Developing a software application using Scrum, where the project backlog is continuously refined, and user stories are prioritized and completed in two-week sprints. The team conducts daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress and address any impediments, while the product owner provides feedback at the end of each sprint to guide future iterations.
Waterfall: Constructing a building using the traditional waterfall approach, where the project progresses through distinct phases such as architectural design, structural engineering, construction, interior finishing, and landscaping. Each phase is completed sequentially, with minimal opportunity for changes once construction begins.

Waterfall and Agile are two different project management methodologies with their own strengths and weaknesses. Waterfall is best suited for projects with well-defined requirements, while Agile is best suited for projects with changing or unclear requirements. Waterfall is a sequential approach, while Agile is an iterative approach that emphasizes collaboration and flexibility.

I am the founder of Know Your Project (KYP) IT Consulting and Training Company. We are based in Pakistan but work extensively with middle-market businesses directly in the European, Middle East and South Asia Regions, as well as through partnerships with multinational companies like yours. I have personally delivered several digital change projects across many sectors globally - including construction, technology, finance, manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, telecommunication. My areas of expertise are concerned with Business Process Re-engineering (BPR), IT Governance and Assurance, PMO Setup, and Business and IT Agility. I also have substantial experience strategizing ERP implementations and have been working with Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics and Odoo for the best part of my professional life. Both nationally and internationally, I’m also providing in-depth, high-caliber executive development and training in various fields, covering topics such as project planning, project management, leading teams, cultural change. I’m a passionate writer and speaker on the topics of Digital Transformation, CIO, ERP and Project Management.

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